La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina

Following the myths of the knight Ruggiero from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, this opera is set on and around the island of Alcina. Ruggiero has been captured by the sorceress Alcina, and is under her spell, believing her to be young and beautiful, and not the ancient sorceress she really is. Melissa, another powerful sorceress, has seen Ruggiero’s future, and knows that he must marry his betrothed Bradamante, so sets out to rescue Ruggiero from Alcina. Alcina does everything she can to keep him from leaving, but Melissa is more powerful and forces Alcina to flee the island. As she leaves, the people who have been imprisoned on the island, enchanted as trees and rocks, return to life.

With sorceresses arriving on dolphins, singing plants, enormous whalebone boats that grow wings and fly away, a chorus of monsters, and a ballet designed to be performed on horseback, Francesca Caccini’s 1625 opera really is an enchanting spectacle. It can be performed with a full cast and chorus, or with just eight singers doubling roles, and it would be perfect for younger singers as none of the roles have particular technical challenges, and sit within easily accessible vocal ranges.

Sinfonia

Prologue - At Sea

‘Non perche congiurati’ - Nettuno

‘O, degl’humidi regni’ - Vistola Fiume

‘Biondo Dio del bel Permesso’ - Chorus of Water Deities

‘Poscia che’l Cielo e’l Mare’ - Nettuno

‘Biondo Dio del bel Permesso’ - Chorus of Water Deities

Scene One - Melissa approaches Alcina’s island, riding on a dolphin

Sinfonia

‘Cosi perfida Alcina’ - Melissa

Scene Two - On Alcina’s Island

‘Qui si può dire’ - Chorus of six damsels

‘Quanto per dolce, e mia beata sorte’ - Ruggiero, Alcina

‘Quando Amor l’arco vuol tendere’ - Two damsels

‘Rimanti, o mio Signore’ - Alcina, Ruggiero

‘Aure volanti, Augeri canori’ - Damsels, Ruggiero

Ritornello

‘Per la piu vaga, e belle Terrena Stella’ - Pastore, Ruggiero

‘Chi nel fior di giovinezza’ - Sirena, Ruggiero

‘Ecco l’ora, ecco il punto’ - Melissa, Ruggiero

‘Ruggier de’ danni asprissimi’ - Chorus of enchanted plants, Ruggiero, Melissa

‘O bei pensieri volare’ - Chorus of damsels, Alcina

‘Non so qual sia maggiore’ - Nunzia, Alcina

‘Ecco Ruggiero a noi bella Regina’ - Two damsels, Alcina, Ruggiero

‘Non solo il chiaro Astolfo’ - Melissa

Scene Three - On Alcina’s Island, the sea is on fire, and Alcina arrives in an enormous boat

‘Qual temerario core’ - Alcina

‘Provera, crudelta’ - Chorus of Monsters

‘E come ohime dall’odioso regno’ - Astolfo, Melissa, Alcina

Scene Four - Rocky cliffs, Alcina’s boat turns into a sea monster and flies away

‘O miseri mortali’ - Melissa

‘Versate occhi’ - A previously enchanted lady, Melissa

‘Ai Diletti, al gioire’ - Chorus of newly liberated knights and damsels

‘Tosche, de Sol piu belle’ - Tutti