The rediscovery of Porsile’s opera Spartacus, performed by Orkester Nord under the direction of Martin Wåhlberg, has been hailed by critics as a major event. Appointed composer to the Imperial Court in 1720, Porsile was the equal of the great composers of his time: Caldara, Fux, Conti, Porpora and even Vivaldi, who died in Vienna in 1741. First performed during Carnival in February 1726, Spartacus is one of his finest operatic works and one of the very few operas of the period to take a gladiator as its subject.

Spartacus was an immediate success when it was premiered in Vienna in February 1726, thanks to its excellent libretto and sumptuous score.

Spartacus is an opera that explores freedom in its many forms. The action opens towards the end of Spartacus’s revolt, with the gladiator leader driven back to the city of Capua. As the siege begins, Spartacus seeks to win the heart of the noble matron Vetturia, while arranging for her daughter Gianisbe to marry the Roman Licinio, who is already betrothed to Vetturia. Beyond these romantic entanglements, Spartacus offers a striking portrayal of the excesses to which absolute power can descend. The libretto gives free rein to emotion and dazzling arias, while also featuring a number of superb comic duets.

Three centuries after its premiere, this production brings Spartacus back to life in a new, meticulously prepared edition, with the score reconstructed using period instrumentation, a world premiere that allows Porsile’s opera and his dramatic music to take flight once more. The cast is led by the remarkable Italian tenor Luigi Morassi in the title role, where his full range of talents comes to the fore in Spartacus’s extraordinary mad scene.

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

Opera in three acts on a libretto by Giovanni Claudio Pasquini, first performed for the Vienna Carnival in 1726.

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house, a complimentary glass of champagne is included.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, a complimentary glass of champagne is included.

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REDUCED GROUP RATE : available for groups of more than 10 people, excluding corporate offers.

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