Love is never a walk in the park.
But when Greek gods, river nymphs and mortals burning with passion all meet in the one place together, things are bound to get hot.
In this sensual pastoral fable, drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, worlds collide: heaven meets earth and music becomes magic.
Apollo loves Dafne, Dafne loves her space. Titone loves Aurora, Aurora’s got her eye on Cefalo. Amore loves making mischief with them all. Hearts yearn as the sun and moon turn.
Cavalli lets his creative genius soar, offering a new vision of opera: an inspired marriage of words and music that reveals the inmost thoughts and feelings of gods and mortals alike. In its bold passion, its flowing eloquence and its laments of exquisite beauty, this is a masterwork of the Italian baroque.
“At its best moments, Helyard led players and singers like an ensemble of masterly improvisers, creating the moment out of nothing but human feeling and quiet breath.” ★★★★.5
“The company hits the jackpot again with Cavalli’s The Loves of Apollo & Dafne… its very funny and highly entertaining.” ★★★★
“Alexandra Oomens – the only cast member brought home from overseas for the show – as a scarlet Aurora and a green Dafne, and Stacey Alleaume as a punk Cupid and the lamenting Procris glistened throughout through both character and vocal delight.” ★★★★★
Cast
Dafne / Aurora Alexandra Oomens
Apollo / Titone / Cirilla / Cefalo Max Riebl
Amore / Itaton / Eco / Procris Stacey Alleaume
Morfeo / Venere / Filena / Musa Jacqueline Dark
Sonno / Alfesibeo / Pan David Hidden
Panto / Giove / Peneo Andrew O’Connor
Chorus Claudia Mackay, Olivia Payne, Elias Wilson, Andrew Taylor Knight
Orchestra Orchestra of the Antipodes
Creative Team
Music by Francesco Cavalli
Libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello
Conductor Erin Helyard
Director Mitchell Butel
Set Designer Jeremy Allen
Costume Designer Melanie Liertz
Lighting Designer Damien Cooper