2018.01.28 19.00

Solti György Kamaraterem

Opera Exam Festival

The Rape of Lucretia

Dutch National Opera Academy

Britten:: The Rape of Lucretia, Op.37

Libretto: Ronald Duncan Costumes: Sanne Oostervink Director: Maria Riccarda Wesseling Piano accompaniment: Luba Podgayskaya Conductor: Karel Deseure Collatinus, Roman general: Alexander de Jong (bass) Junius, Roman general: Emmanuel Franco (baritone) Tarquinius, Etruscan prince: Jasper Leever (baritone) Lucretia, wife of Collatinus: Deborah Saffery (contralto) Bianca, Lucretia’s nurse: Serena Perez (mezzo-soprano) Lucia, Lucretia’s maid: Judith Weusten (soprano) Male chorus: Stefan Kennedy (tenor) Female chorus: Stephanie DesJardins (soprano) Scenery: Roos Veenkamp Lighting: Tim van t' Hof

According to historians, the uprising that deposed the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, around 510 B.C. is traditionally associated with the rape of Lucretia. The ruler’s son attacked the faithful wife, Lucretia, who out of a sense of trauma and shame eventually committed suicide. According to ancient accounts, the general scandal around the incident resulted in the collapse of the kingdom of Rome and the institution of a republic. In the chamber opera by Britten, which premiered in 1946, the events are assessed by two commentators – a woman and a man – from a Christian perspective. The two-act work is presented at this year’s festival by the Dutch National Opera Academy. The two-year masters courses arranged through the collaboration of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Royal Conservatory of The Hague – and which is headed by singer Maria Riccarda Wesseling, who appears here as director – focuses on the musical and acting development of young opera singers.