The first performance of Ferdinando Paër’s “Leonora” (1804) using the critical new edition, previously announced in the last [t]akte-Newsletter, will take place at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music as planned on 7, 9 and 11 August, despite restrictions due to Corona virus. The Festival Orchestra, conducted by Alessandro de Marchi, will play on the stage of the Tiroler Landestheater and the vocal soloists will act their parts in front of the orchestra without full costumes or masks. Ferdinando Paër was Kapellmeister in Dresden, and Ludwig van Beethoven was familiar with Paër’s work, which was premiered a year before his own „Leonore“. Following cancellations of performances in Schwetzingen, Martina Franca (Italy) and Bonn, this will be the only opportunity to hear Paër’s work in the Beethoven anniversary year.

The new edition of the opera “Dardanus” by Jean-Philippe Rameau in the version from May 1744 presents the work in the definitive form intended by the Composer.

For his opera “Alessandro” Handel was able to engage the best singers of his day in 1726. Today too, the work, with its fictitious plot, continues to offer ample subject matter for a bravura opera evening.

Goodness triumphs, and Beauty is purified: Handel’s allegorical oratorio “La Bellezza ravveduta nel trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno” is an extremely attractive work, thanks to its melodic richness and captivating arias, duets and quartets.

With his four symphonic poems, Camille Saint-Saëns placed himself firmly in the tradition of Hector Berlioz and Franz Liszt. The first critical editions offer an opportunity for new interpretations based on authoritative primary sources, both in the 2021 anniversary year (the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death) and well beyond.

In keeping with the Austrian-Spanish wedding festivities, the old couple Philemon and Baucis become a young couple. Gluck’s one act “Atto di Bauci e Filemone” with its bravura arias deserves to be revived.

The first concert performance of the fragmentary surviving early version of the opera „Sosarme“ planned for 1 April 2020 at the London Handel Festival has unfortunately had to be cancelled. Handel fans are now hoping to hear „Fernando“ on 5 June at Handel Festival Halle in the Freylinghausen Saal of the Francke Foundation with soloists and the orchestra of Opera Settecento conducted by Leo Durate. Performance material specially created for this occasion from the Halle Handel Edition will be used for the first time.