New Chamber Opera: Cavalli's Erismena

Thursday, 5 March 2026, 8pm
Antechapel, New College Chapel, New College, Oxford

Musical Director: Rudyard Cook
Producer: Michael Burden

By 1655, Francesco Cavalli was one of the most famous opera composers of the century. Erismena, first performed that year, was a hit, with numerous performances in the years that followed. A score of the opera reached England sometime in the 17th century, with its own underlaid singing translation which is the basis of the text used in this staging, which is a version prepared for these performances by Rudyard Cook.

Cast:
Erimante, King of Media bass – Mattias Lundberg 
Erismena, daughter of Erimante soprano – Matilda Bates 
Aldimira, favourite of Erimante soprano – Ischia Gooda 
Alcesta, Aldimira’s former nurse soprano – Anneka Vetter 
Idraspe (Erineo), Prince of Iberia contralto – Sebastian Carrington 
Orimeno, Prince of Colchus soprano – Divine Simbanegavi
Agrippo, servant of Orimeno bass – George Hill 
Diarte, a prison guard bass – Sam Chichester Clark 
Clerio, tenor – Thomas Perry 
Flerida, soprano – Sophie Madden 

By 1655, Francesco Cavalli was one of the most famous opera composers of the century. Erismena, first performed that year, was a hit, with numerous performances in the years that followed. A score of the opera reached England sometime in the 17th century, with its own underlaid singing translation which is the basis of the text used in this staging, which is a version prepared for these performances by Rudyard Cook.

Synopsis:
Erismena is a contrast to the composer’s earlier operas. It has a cast of princes and soldiers rather than Gods and mythological characters and concentrates on telling an intimate story rather than posturing with grand gestures. There are three characters in disguise for much of the opera: Erismena is disguised as a solider; Stella is (unknowingly) in disguise as Aldimira, having been kidnapped as a child; and Idraspe is in disguise as Erineo. These disguises cause confusion throughout the opera are only resolved in the last few minutes of the show. So be prepared!

Purchase tickets for this performance here.