Description

Monteverdi: Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria – John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists DVD

UPC: 0809478013488

Product Features

Title: Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner
Performers:Orchestra: English Baroque Soloists
- Ulisse: Furio Zanasi
- Penelope: Lucile Richardot
- Telemaco: Krystian Adam
- Minerva/Fortuna: Hana Blažíková
- Tempo/Nettuno/Antinoo: Gianluca Buratto
- Pisandro: Michał Czerniawski
- Anfinomo: Gareth Treseder
- Eurinaco: Zachary Wilder
Chorus: Monteverdi Choir
Venue: Teatro La Fenice, Venice
Production: Part of John Eliot Gardiner’s 450th-anniversary celebration of Monteverdi's birth
Co-Directors: John Eliot Gardiner & Elsa Rooke
Lighting Designer: Rick Fisher
Costume Designers: Patricia Hofstede, Isabella De Sabata
Video Director: Sébastien Glas
Label: Opus Arte
Format: DVD, NTSC, All Regions
Running Time: 135 minutes
Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorphic
Sound Formats: Dolby Digital Stereo, Surround Sound
Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean
Release Year: 2022

Overview

This Opus Arte DVD features John Eliot Gardiner conducting Claudio Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, recorded live at the historic Teatro La Fenice in Venice. This semi-staged production is part of Gardiner’s acclaimed celebration of Monteverdi’s 450th anniversary, marking a significant event in Western cultural history.

Monteverdi's Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, based on the second half of Homer’s Odyssey, showcases the composer’s ability to express deep emotions through music. This opera tells the story of Ulysses, the flawed hero who must face numerous hardships before reuniting with his faithful queen, Penelope, and reclaiming his kingdom. Gardiner, along with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists, brings Monteverdi's intricate score to life with sensitivity and emotional depth.

Praised for its thoughtful and powerful staging, this production features superb performances by Furio Zanasi as Ulisse and Lucile Richardot as Penelope, with a supporting cast of exceptional singers. Directed for the screen by Sébastien Glas, this DVD captures the intimate and emotional essence of Monteverdi’s masterpiece.

Repertoire

Claudio Monteverdi:
- Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
- Running Time: 135 minutes

Interesting Facts

John Eliot Gardiner is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Monteverdi’s works, and this performance is part of his broader project celebrating Monteverdi's legacy on the occasion of his 450th birth anniversary.
The opera was filmed at Teatro La Fenice, one of Italy’s most iconic and historical opera houses, adding to the authenticity and grandeur of the production.
Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria is one of only three surviving operas by Monteverdi and is known for its emotional depth, focusing on themes of loyalty, faith, and human endurance.