The Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo is preparing Vivaldi's Juditha Triumphans

The Teatre Martín i Soler will host three performances of this oratorio on November 21, 22 and 23.

Valencia. The artists of the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo are immersed in rehearsals for Juditha Triumphans , by Antonio Vivaldi, the work with which the sixth promotion of this project is presented.

Federico Maria Sardelli, in the pit, and Davide Livermore, on stage, are teaming up again for the second Vivaldi performance at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, following the success of L'incoronazione di Dario in 2013. The Teatre Martín i Soler will host three performances of this oratorio on November 21, 22, and 23.

The work of Antonio Vivaldi and by extension the music of the early 18th century is ideal for the pedagogical work that Davide Livermore carries out at the Centre de Perfeccionament.

As the artistic director of this project explains: “The music of this era allows us to teach artists to act and sing without the psychological pressure they would experience with an opera featuring major roles. Furthermore, the high notes are integrated into the musical discourse, making it easier to learn to tell stories with the voice.”

Juditha Triumphans ' production also continues the line of work that the Turin-born director started in L'incoronazione di Dario , in which the body was a part of the whole of the narrative, with duplications in the characters to enhance the discourse and facilitate its understanding.

Maestro Federico Maria Sardelli is one of the leading figures in the revival of Antonio Vivaldi's work. A composer, musicologist, and flautist, his repertoire includes recordings of Vivaldi's works such as Arsilda, regina di Ponto , Orlando Furioso , Tito Manlio , Motezuma , and L'Atenaide . As a researcher, Sardelli has published numerous essays on the composer's work, as well as critical editions. Founder of the baroque orchestra Modo Antiquo, Federico Maria Sardelli has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards.

The cast of Juditha Triumphans is made up of the Center de Perfection singers Federica Alfano, Cristina Alunno, Elisa Barbero, Mariam Battistelli, Hyekyung Choi, Lina Mendes, Rebecca Nathanson, Chiara Osella, Francesca Tassinari, Federica di Trapani, María Zapata and Míriam Zubieta.

Juditha Triumphans 

Juditha Triumphans is the only complete oratorio by Antonio Vivaldi that has survived to the present day. Based on the Book of Judith from the Old Testament , Vivaldi composed it in homage to Venice's victory over the Ottoman Turks in 1716, hence its 'sacro-military' designation. Giacomo Cassetti wrote the libretto in Latin.

The main characteristic of this work is that all the roles are for women. This is because Vivaldi premiered it at the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage where he worked for years as a music instructor for young girls and as a composer of the repertoire for its regular concerts.

Juditha Triumphans recreates the character of the biblical heroine Judith, the woman whose beauty and courage halted the siege of the Israeli city of Bethulia by the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar II. With her people on the verge of falling to the Assyrian army, the young Judith goes to Holofernes' camp seeking his mercy, but the general is captivated by her charms. After a lavish banquet and abundant wine, Holofernes falls asleep. It is then that Judith beheads him and returns victorious to Bethulia with the general's head.

Prices and subscriptions 

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía reminds the public that a season ticket for the productions and shows of the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo is now available. For just €37.50, those interested can attend one of the three performances of Vivaldi's Juditha Triumphans , the concert-show tribute to Mozart 'What Are Clouds?' in January, and Domenico Scarlatti's opera Narcissus , which closes the operatic season in May.

Tickets for Juditha Triumphans have a single price of 25 euros.