The only surviving oratorio by the composer, written in 1716 for the young female musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, Juditha triumphans celebrates the victory of the Venetian Republic over the Ottoman Empire. An allegorical and political work as much as a spiritual one, it stages the biblical figure of Judith, a heroine of courage and cunning, who triumphs over the general Holofernes to save her people.

In this richly textured score, Vivaldi unleashes an unusually inventive instrumental palette — mandolins, theorbo, chalumeaux and viola d’amore — serving an intense and contrasting dramaturgy. Alternating virtuoso arias, contemplative passages and grand choral ensembles, the work achieves a striking balance between expressive power and formal architecture.

At the helm of Orkester Nord, conductor Martin Wåhlberg brings all his dramatic energy and stylistic sensitivity to this sacred fresco, in a historically informed and vividly expressive reading.

The cast brings together two major figures of the Baroque vocal world: Anna Bonitatibus as Juditha and Ann Hallenberg in the role of Vagaus, whose aria “Armata face et anguibus” has become a cornerstone of the Baroque repertoire.

With the sumptuous participation of the Chœur de l’Opéra Royal, this interpretation restores the full theatrical modernity and emotional force of this sacred Baroque masterpiece. Between martial fervour and mystical introspection, Juditha triumphans stands as a total musical experience, where the female voice triumphs in radiant brilliance.

This program will be recorded on CD for the Château de Versailles Spectacles label.

With the generous support of the Françoise Kahn-Hamm Endowment Fund.

Oratorio in two parts on a libretto by Iacopo Cassetti, first performed at the Ospedale della Pietà in 1716.