Eight-Hour Opera from 1668 Requiring Extensive Reconstruction Premieres in Innsbruck

The opera "Il pomo d'oro" by Pietro Antonio Cesti, a monumental work from 1668, is set to premiere in two parts at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music. This opera has not been performed in its entirety since its original staging, requiring extensive reconstruction of its score and two "lost acts."

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a comprehensive reconstruction of the score

Ottavio Dantone, the musical director and conductor, described the process as "lengthy work" and "musical reconstructions." He emphasized the need for "comprehensive reconstruction of the score" and "musicological research" to restore the lost acts and approximate the composer's original intent. The opera's sheer scale, featuring twenty singers portraying 47 characters, presented a significant challenge in unifying the diverse musical and dramatic elements.

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to restore the two lost acts and come as close as possible to the form intended by its creator

Dantone expressed hope that the audience will be as moved by the work as the performers were in bringing it back to life. The decision to present the opera over two evenings, totaling just over three hours of music per night excluding intermissions, is rooted in "historically informed performance practice." The production aims to transform the score into "living theater," showcasing one of the 17th century's most significant and demanding musical theater pieces.

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lengthy work and musical reconstructions