ODC Theater: ARS MINERVA – La Flora

La Flora
Composers: Sartorio, Antonio <1630-1680>, Ziani, Marc’Antonio <1653?-1715>

This opera was originally a commission for Antonio Sartorio, who died halfway through the composition; it was completed by Marc Antonio Ziani, a nephew of Pietro Andrea Ziani.

Librettist: Novello Bonis

First Performance: 1681 Carnival, Venice. Teatro San Angelo.

Synopsis
A work of emotional chiaroscuro that ranges from heroic tragedy to slamming-door farce, set in the late Roman Republic under the rule of the fearsome dictator Sulla (here called Silla). Young Flora and Pompeo are impassioned lovers. But Silla and Pompeo’s dad have other plans: Pompeo is to marry Silla’s daughter, Emilia. The only problem is that Emilia is already married to somebody else. And Pompeo (the future Pompey the Great), though a hero on the battlefield, turns out to be a spineless wuss when it comes to standing up to Dad and defending his girlfriend. Flora exerts her seductive superpowers to get her man. But will she succeed?

Cast
Flora: Alexa Andersen
Pompeo: Jasmine Johnson
Silla: Wayne Wong
Emilia: Aura Veruni
Servio: Sara Couden
Geminio: Nina Jones
Strabone: Sidney Ragland
Probo: TBD

Creative Team
Director: Céline Ricci
Projections: Entropy
Costumes: Marina Polakoff
Lights: Del Medoff
Transcription: Adam Cockerham
Translation: Joe McClinton

Orchestra
Basso Continuo:
Matthew Dirst: Conductor/Harpsichord
Gretchen Claassen: Cello
Richard Savino: Theorbo

Strings:
Cynthia Keiko Black: Violin 1
Gail Hernandez Rosa: Violin 2
Daria D’Andrea: Viola
Dominic Favia: Trumpet