Vivaldi’s musical style is inescapable his operas make demands on its singers that separate those who can sing his music - furious coloratura, fast repeated notes, and impossibly large leaps - and those who cannot. This recently-revived opera is a trove for those who love history. Composed in 1733, the opera looks far to the West for its exotic appeal, telling the story of the last days of Moctezuma II, the 15th- and 16th-century Aztec Emperor who died in 1520 during the Spanish Conquistador expedition led by Hernán Cortés. Listening to his score, there’s nothing to suggest that Montezuma is one of the very first operas set in North America. Yet their production of Antonio Vivaldi’s Montezuma, presented March 15-17, 2019, stands out among their line-up as the only work based in the legends of real-life history. ![]() Vivaldi's Aztec exoticism: Montezuma Editorial Jenna Simeonov This post is sponsored by American Baroque Opera Co.ĭallas-based American Baroque Opera Company is mid-way through its 2018-19 season, entitled “Myths and Legends.” Indeed, with pieces like Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and Scarlatti’s Venus & Adonis, ABOC has the myths covered.
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