The Buxton Festival has pulled off a real coup with its bold staging of Francesca Caccini's 1625 opera 'La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina', an unearthing of the earliest surviving opera written by a woman that will leave you breathless and begging for more. This game-changing production is not just about dusting off a long-forgotten masterpiece, but a vibrant reimagining of the classical world that brings out the best in its cast and crew.
Premiered initially for the Medici court under Maria Maddalena of Austria, 'La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina' is an operatic thrill ride that whips up a storm with its fantastical plot twists. It's a mythological adventure where warrior Ruggiero finds himself caught between the magical duel of villainous sorceress Alcina and benevolent Melissa, set against a backdrop of Ariosto's 'Orlando Furioso'. The narrative is full of surprises, including a chorus of Alcina's former lovers turned into plants – yes, you read that right! - and a wild card of a finale featuring a unique horse ballet (although this element has been omitted from the current staging).
Under the skilled direction of Eloise Lally and the talented young Buckinghamshire ensemble Vache Baroque, 'La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina' is brought to life in all its glory. Their vision for the production delves deep into themes of power and authority, with a refreshing mix of lightness and playfulness that brings out the best in their musical direction by Jonathan Darbourne. The rich instrumental score, infused with pieces from Caccini's contemporaries, explodes onto the stage with vibrant colour and energy, expertly woven together with arrangements for recorders, sackbuts, violins, theorbo, and guitar.
The set design by Zahra Mansouri offers a bold contrast to traditional operatic aesthetics. Ruggiero, portrayed by Jon Stainsby, is bound and blindfolded, while Melissa’s assistants wear fatigues and Alcina's potion-making is given a gritty edge – the dramatic stakes are raised visually, but some critics suggest that the vocal performances, though detailed, occasionally fall short of delivering the full emotional punch required for this heightened psychodrama. That said, Stainsby's confrontation with Alcina (played by Camilla Seale in a commanding performance) is a highlight, and Phoebe Rayner shines as Melissa, her bright soprano voice cutting through the darkness.
The cast delivers an array of standout performances, including Harriet Burns' versatile turn as Caccini's ensemble pieces and Filippo Turkheimer's cameo as Neptune – he brings vocal personality to the production in spades. Despite the absence of that show-stopping horse ballet, 'La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina' casts a potent musical spell over its audience.