One of the greatest triumphs on the musical scene! Simply enchanting!
“A wonderful lesson in music … and theatre!
Selvam Thorez, Bachtrack
Following in the tradition of Carissimi and Handel, Falvetti brings us this highly original music that is reminiscent of Sicily, a land of mixed cultures known for its blending of Eastern and Western songs. Il Diluvio Universale, a “dialogue for five voices and five instruments”, was first performed in Messina in 1682, when Michelangelo Falvetti was appointed choirmaster of the cathedral. The story is taken from one of the most well-known and tragic episodes in the Old Testament. Weary of mankind’s wickedness and corruption, God decides to eliminate man and all other forms of life, unleashing rain on earth for forty days and forty nights. He only spares Noah, his family and the animals of each species that he orders to be housed in the Ark. The topic lends itself perfectly to operatic treatment, and its two creators draw inspiration from it very effectively throughout the play. The libretto, written by Vincenzo Giattini, allowed Falvetti to exploit the drama with a level of genius that can rarely be found in works of the same period.
In Cielo, Orchestra di Angeli, Giustizia Divina, Elementi, Acqua
Act II
In Terra, Rad, Noè, dio, Coro (Figli di Noè)
Act III
Il Diluvio, Morte, Natura humana, Noè, Rad, Coro (l’umanità)
Act IV
In l’arca di Noè, Noé, Rad, Coro
Performance running time: 1 hour 30 minutes with intermission
Valerio Contaldo, Noé, tenor
Mariana Flores, Rad, soprano
Alessandro Giangrande, Divine justice, counter-tenor
Ilia Mazurov, Death, baryton-basse
Cécile Achille, Water, soprano
Ana Viera Leite, Air & Human Nature, soprano
Matteo Bellotto, God, bass
Chœur de Chambre de Namur
Direction Leonardo García Alarcón
Concert Classique – Coups de Cœur à Chantilly
“The Argentine conductor describes Diluvio as a ‘catalogue’ of human emotions, music that you must see to hear”. With all the theatrical experience he has gained since 2010, there can be no doubt that he will be able to explore and highlight the work’s dramatic qualities to an even greater extent.”
Alain Cochard for Concert classique
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Garcia Alarcón submerges Versailles with Falvetti’s Il Diluvio universale – Versailles, 2016
“The soloists, Cappella Mediterranea and Namur’s Chœur de Chambre are now seasoned performers, thanks to numerous performances and a 2011 recording. This evening in Versailles, they completely mastered the dramatic dynamics of this extraordinary oratorio, revealing to the audience their complicity and the pleasure they take in playing together. A wonderful lesson in music … and theatre!“
Selvam Thorez for Bachtrack
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A production of festival d’Ambronay
18h00
"Les Coups de cœur à Chantilly" Festival
Chantilly, France
20h00
Festival Misteria Paschalia - Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic
Krakow, Poland
20h00
Ludwigsburg, Germany
20h30
Festival d'Ambronay
Ambronay, France
20h00
Bruges, Concertgebouw, Belgium
20h00
Versailles, Chapelle Royale, France
20h30
Festival de Musique et d'Arts Sacré - Agapé
Carouge, Switzerland
20h00
Dijon, Auditorium, France
20h15
Rotterdam, Grote Zaal, Netherlands
16h00
Lille, Opéra France
18h00
Lille, Opéra France
21h00
Sala Cultura Artistica
Sao Paolo, Brazil
19h30
Sala principal - Teatro Solis
Montevideo, Uruguay
20h00
Teatro Colón
Buenos Aires, Argentina
21h00
Chiesa di San Filippo
Turin, Italy
21h00
Basilico di San Marco
Milan, Italy
20h00
Friedenskirche Sanssouci
Potsdam, Germany
20h00
Auditorium de Lyon
Lyon, France
17h00
Victoria Hall
Geneva, Switzerland
20h00
Eglise Saint-Loup, Namur
Namur, Belgium
20h00
Chapelle Royale, Château de Versailles
France