Brooklyn College Opera Theatre
Lucio Silla
May 11, 7:30pm
May 13, 2:00pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
Giovanni de Gamerra, Librettist
A concert version of Mozart’s early opera seria gem LUCIO SILLA, not heard in New York City since the Mostly Mozart Festival presented it in 1992. The opera shimmers with the promise of prodigy claiming maturity, as a sixteen year old Mozart demonstrates his mastery of the Italian opera seria form fresh off of two tours across Italy with his father.
Hints of his masterful later works abound: “Don Giovanni” calls to us in the Act 1 Finale Tomb Scene, and the sisters of “Cosí Fan Tutte” have an early boiler plate in the rock-like fidelity and vocal fireworks of the lead soprano, Giunia.The libretto by Giovanni di Camera brings to life the historical figure of Roman tyrant Sulla who like the emperor Tito in Mozart’s last opera “Clemenza di Tito,” finally finds justice and forgiveness in his heart.
Credits
Matthew Patrick Morris, Director
George Rothman, Conservatory Orchestra Conductor
Malcolm J. Merriweather, Conservatory Singers Director
Gloria Bangiola, Chorus Master
Gordon Schermer, harpsichord
The Company has received a grant from the Donald C. Brace Foundation in addition to other funding to make this production possible.
