An opera in three acts, with a libretto by Marco Coltellini, premiered on October 4, 1763, at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Staged opera.
New production Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik
Proudly supported by the Talens Lyriques Patrons’ Circle
Nicola Raab, staging
Madeleine Boyd, set design and costumes
CAST
Rocío Pérez, Ifigenia
Rafal Tomkiewicz, Oreste
Suzanne Jerosme, Pilade
Alasdair Kent, Toante
Karolina Bengtsson, Dori
Novocanto Choir
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, harpsichord and musical direction
« Ifigenia in Tauride draws us into the tragic heart of the House of Atreus. Orestes is consumed by guilt over the murder of his mother, while Iphigenia bears the lasting scars of her near-sacrifice, planned by her own father. They are two tormented souls, profoundly alone, who find each other in a moment of overwhelming recognition. Their reunion is deeply moving. And the unwavering bond between Orestes and Pylades – willing to face death side by side – adds yet another layer of emotional intensity.
Traetta’s music captures this tragic tension perfectly. Standing at the crossroads of Neapolitan bel canto and Gluck’s dramatic reform, his vocal writing is never an empty display. Every line, every ornament, conveys raw, sincere emotion. Rocío Pérez, with her rare ability to combine virtuosity and dramatic depth, will be a truly poignant Iphigenia.
The Innsbruck Festival, with its dedication to rediscovering rare works, is the ideal setting for this production. I have had the joy of conducting there before, and returning now, with an exceptional cast and Nicola Raab’s vision on stage, promises to be a thrilling adventure. »
– Christophe Rousset