Three of Monteverdi’s genre-defining operas are presented by a world-class team of casts and creatives.

2017 marked the 450th anniversary of the birth of Claudio Monteverdi – one of the founders of opera and hailed in his day as ‘the creator of modern music’. Monteverdi transformed vocal music beyond Renaissance polyphony into an entirely new genre that expressed powerful feelings and emotions within a gripping narrative. This set brings together Monteverdi’s three surviving operas: the splendorous L’Orfeo and, from later in his life, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and L’incoronazione di Poppea with their visceral passions and dramatic dilemmas, all elements that have animated the history of opera for centuries. John Eliot Gardiner’s acclaimed Monteverdi 450 series of semi-staged performances produced in Venice’s historical Teatro La Fenice is a living confirmation that Monteverdi ‘will be sighed for in later ages, for his compositions will surely outlive the ravages of time.’

“Monteverdi’s genius shone through at every turn in this vibrant, heartfelt performance…” – The Times ★★★★★ (L’Orfeo)

“Gardiner has assembled a touring ensemble of remarkable quality…” – The Times ★★★★★ (Poppea)

“…Impressive singers and musicians shine in a beautifully realised semi-staging that sounded totally assured...” – The Guardian ★★★★★ (Ulisse)

“In short, this was a treat” – Seen and Heard International (L’Orfeo)

Casts:

L’Orfeo
- Orfeo: Krystian Adam
- La Musica, Euridice: Hana Blažíková
- Messaggera: Lucile Richardot
- Proserpina: Francesca Boncompagni
- Caronte, Plutone: Gianluca Burrato
- Speranza: Kangmin Justin Kim
- Apollo: Furio Zanasi

Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
- Ulisse: Furio Zanasi
- Penelope: Lucile Richardot
- Telemaco: Krystian Adam
- Minerva / Fortuna: Hana Blažiková
- Tempo / Nettuno / Antinoo: Gianluca Burrato
- Pisandro: Michał Czerniawski
- Amfinomo: Gareth Treseder

L’incoronazione di Poppea
- Poppea / Fortuna: Hana Blažiková
- Nerone: Kangmin Justin Kim
- Ottone: Carlo Vistoli
- Seneca: Gianluca Buratto
- Arnalta / Venere: Lucile Richardot
- Drusilla / Virtù / Pallade: Anna Dennis
- Ottavia: Marianna Pizzolato

Co-directors: John Eliot Gardiner, Elsa Rooke
Lighting designer: Rick Fisher
Video director: Sébastien Glas

Duration: approx. 506 minutes
Audio: LPCM 2.0 + DTS-HD Master Audio Surround
FSK: 0