Bajazet: A high wire, seat of the pants coloratura with super fast notes

Peter Whelan Photo: Marco Borggreve

THE walls of Limerick’s Limetree Theatre will resonate to the sound of Vivaldi’s Bajazet this weekend
This co-production with the Royal Opera House, in partnership with the Irish Baroque Orchestra is best described as a brilliant physiological thriller.
Vivaldi’s Bajazet features the acclaimed Irish Baroque Orchestra.
Conductor and early music specialist, Peter Whelan spoke about the opera which will play at the Linbury Theatre in the Royal Opera House, London in February after this short Irish tour.
“What’s special about the Irish Baroque Orchestra is that we play instruments from the time of Vivaldi, we try to copy exactly what Vivaldi would have known.
“And that means that we’re really light on our feet. We can, kind of, present the music with a kind of zip and a fizz that is more difficult with modern instruments.”
“So that can really make the music of Vialdi pop.”
“It’s very extreme music, heart of the sleeve emotions. You get some really long breath lyrical music which is super beautiful and then you also get this high wire, seat of the pants coloratura with super fast notes, superhuman music, no place to breathe.
“It is fast, fast, fast, fast and it’s just the most stunning arias I think I’ve ever heard.”
Italian bass-baritone Gianluca Margheri sings the title role, with mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan as Asteria and sopranos Claire Booth and Aoife Miskelly as Irene and Idaspe, with counter tenors James Laing and Eric Jurenas as Tamerlano and Andronicus. Bajazet is directed by Adele Thomas, with set and costume design by Molly O’Cathain and lighting design by Sinéad Wallace.

www.limetreetheatre.ie for tickets and more information.
Vivaldi’s Bajazet will be performed at the Lime Tree Theatre at the earlier time of 5pm this Saturday January 22.

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