Early Music Festival

Links

 

A synopsis of the opera at wikipedia

The Italian libretto

Cast list

L'Orfeo, favola in musica, is celebrating its 400th year, and is perhaps the earliest operatic masterpiece.  The text, by Alessandro Striggio, is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, the legendary musician, who attempts to rescue his dead lover Eurydice from the underworld.

First performed at the ducal palace in Mantua, the Echo Camerata Opera will be bringing the story to life in a concert version at the Cathedral of All Souls.  Aaron Schnurbusch will sing the title role, and Michael Porter will conduct. 

This is a rare opportunity to see this powerful work live, complete with an ensemble including an interesting mix of period instruments: harpsichords, recorders, natural trumpets, a viola da gamba, a lirone, and a theorbo, to name a few.

Cast list here.

Claudio Monteverdi

To contact us:

Phone: 828-505-2858

E-mail: info@eemf.net

January 30, 2008

7:30 p.m.

Cathedral of All Souls at Biltmore Village

Bios

Aaron Schnurbusch is a lyric tenor.  He graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Music degree.  He has performed General Novikovich from The Merry Widow, Goro from Madama Butterfly, Lippo Fiorentino in Street Scene, the Anführer in Kurt Weill’s Der Zar läst sich photographieren and the eponymous saint in Britten’s St. Nicolas.  Recently, he has been performing with the Asheville Lyric Opera chorus and Education and Outreach program.

C. Michael Porter, director of choral activities at Brevard College, has served as visiting choral instructor at Bloomsburg University and graduate assistant at Truman State University and The University of Iowa. Regularly performs with the Carnegie Hall Choral Conducting Workshop Chorus. Is an associate conductor with the Asheville Lyric Opera Company and was a guest conductor for the ALO’s performance of The Merry Widow.  Has also conducted Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Saint Nicolas, Mozart’s Vespers K. 339, and numerous cantatas by J.S. Bach; including BWV 4, 72, 78, 131, and 140.Has prepared choruses for numerous operas; including The Gondoliers, L'Elisir d'Amore, Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, La Traviata, Lucia Lammermoor, and The Barber of Seville. An active scholar in Renaissance choral music; has been awarded fellowships for his research in Salzburg's post-Tridentine musical reform. Finalist in the 1999 American Choral Directors' Association conducting competition, and both finalist and honorable mention in various National Association of Teachers of Singing Competitions.  Also active as a guest clinician in Western North Carolina.