Erismena

L'Erismena, in its first Italian version, was premiered in Venice in 1655 by Francesco Cavalli: it is therefore one of the first operas of the Baroque era, but above all it is probably the first opera to have been translated into English and perhaps even to have been performed in England. Its manuscript score, complete with English libretto, was rediscovered in a private library in 2008, enriched by a unique prologue.

Under the musical and artistic direction of Leonardo García Alarcón, the Haute école de musique de Genève (HEM) and the Cité Bleue are joining forces to bring this jewel of Baroque opera back to life and offer the first European performance to Geneva audiences.

Every year, students at the HEM take part in large-scale vocal and orchestral projects designed to develop their skills as soloists, orchestral musicians, chamber musicians and choristers, while familiarising them with the demanding environment of the professional world. L'Erismena is one such project.