Details

Written in 1917 this is an extended hymn to the sacred power of music to salvage and redeem a declining culture. The Pope has banned all but the plainest music, the composer Palestrina has stopped composing, mourning the death of his wife. Can Cardinal Borromeo convince him to convince the Pope of the power of music? Hans Pfitzner's epic work Palestrina received its British premiere at Covent Garden in 1997 in a remarkable production by the German team of director Nikolaus Lehnhoff, and designers Tobias Hoheisel (sets) and Bettina Walter (costumes). Supported (1997) by the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust, The Drogheda Circle and The Friends of Covent Garden. Sung in German with English surtitles. Running time 4 hours 30 minutes.

Cast/Performers

Hubert Delamboye (Bernardo Novagerio), Detlef Roth (Count Luna), Christiane Oelze (Ighino), Eike Wilm Schulte (Bishop Ercole Severolus), Wicus Slabbert (Cardinal of Lorraine), Kurt Moll (Pope Pius IV), Alan Titus (Giovanni Morone), Thomas Allen (Giovanni Morone - Feb 8), Kurt Rydl (Cardinal Christoph Madruscht), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Abdisu), Gwynne Howell (Anton Brus von Muglitz), Graham Clark (Bishop Clark), Alasdair Elliott (Theophilus of Imola), Timothy Robinson (Dandini of Grosseto), Peter Wedd (Bishop of Fiesole), Graeme Broadbent (Bishop of Feltre), Roderick Earle (Avosmediano), Philip Langridge (Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina), Sophie Koch (Silla), Jane Irwin (Lucretia), Alasdair Elliott, Timothy Robinson, Peter Auty, Quentin Hayes, Roderick Earle, Michael Druiett, Geoffrey Moses, Jeremy White, Graeme Broadbent, Jeni Bern, Christian Oelze, Jenny Grahn

Creatives/Company

Author: Hans Pfitzner
Company: Royal Opera