Romain Dayez in "second world premiere" of Cavalli's L'Oristeo

Romain Dayez

Barihunk Romain Dayez will be performing the title role in Cavalli's L’Oristeo, which has been all but forgotten to time. The performance is being dubbed the opera's "second world premiere."

The performances at Opera Marseilles with the members of Concerto Soave will  directed by Olivier Lexa, who has updated the production with video projections while staying true to the period. The musicians of Concerto Soave will be arranged on either side of the stage, strings and winds facing each accompanied by a continuo.

The opera was reconstructed by Lexa from a manuscript that appeared to be hastily scribbled by Cavalli and deemed almost illegible. The opera is notable for containing one of the first examples of a da capo aria, Udite amanti, sung by Corinta (sung by Lucie Roche in this production).

Watch a recital with Romain Dayez: 

The opera was written with a prologue and three acts and was designated as a dramma per musica. Cavalli and Faustini, his favorite librettist, collaborated on eight operas in the 1640s. However, Faustini's untimely death in 1651 ended the collaboration that gave birth in a year and a half to L’Oristeo, La Rosinda, L’Eritrea and La Calisto. It premiered at theTeatro Sant 'Apollinare on February 9, 1651, just four decades after Monteverdi's Orfeo, which is often considered the first opera.

Performances are on March 11 and 13th. 

Other cast members include Aurora Tirotta as Diomeda and Amore, Maïlys de Villoutreys as Ermino and Nemeo, Pascal Bertin as Oresde, Zachary Wilder as Trasimede and Lis Viricel as Euralio.