Antonio Vivaldi’s Bajazet

Antonio Vivaldi’s Bajazet

Antonio Vivaldi’s Bajazet is the latest Baroque Opera to be rediscovered and performed by Pinchgut Opera. Brimming with passion and intrigue, it has been rarely seen since its premier in Verona in 1735.

Dedicated to finding and producing neglected masterpieces, each one of Pinchgut’s productions are made from the ground up. Artistic director Erin Helyard sourced the opera (written in Vivaldi’s own hand) from a library in Turin. He then spent countless hours transcribing and editing the manuscript for it to be performed. “It’s like copying a picture”, says Helyard. “By the time you finish you get to know every brushstroke, every note”.

Bajazet is a ‘Pasticcio’, a favoured genre of the 18th Century, where the artist ‘curates’ a selection of arias from diverse composers. Vivaldi composed nine of the arias and the other seven come from some of his great contemporaries. “People who know Vivaldi’s work won’t be disappointed, and I think people will be excited to hear works from composers they’ve never heard before”, says Helyard.

In the spirit of Vivaldi, the cast features an exceptional group of vibrant, up-and-coming singers, bringing a freshness that is sure to resonate with audiences. “We’ve updated the production to a modern context”, says Helyard. “So it’s not a stuffy museum piece, it’s a living breathing piece of theatre”.

4 – 8 July, City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney, $30-135, Bookings & info: http://www.pinchgutopera.com.au/bajazet/ or 02 8256 2222.

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