Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In Act II of Francesca Caccini's Alcina, the noble magician Melissa has found heroic Ruggerio enchanted by the sorceress Alcina. Scolded, Ruggerio denounces the charms of love and pledges to return to his fate as a warrior. The plants on the island reveal themselves to be previous victims of Alcina and beg Ruggerio to rescue them from their terrible fate.
Originally presented in November 2018, the GRAMMY-winning Boston Early Music Festival will present encore performances of Alcina—the first opera by a woman composer—at the 2023 Boston Early Music Festival, themed A Celebration of Women. Now coming to BEMF's 2023 Virtual Festival this September.
Learn more at bemf.org/2023-festival
Kelsey Lauritano (Melissa), Colin Balzer (Ruggerio), and the BEMF Vocal Ensemble; Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors; Gilbert Blin, Stage Director; Robert Mealy, Concertmaster; Melinda Sullivan, Choreographer. Originally recorded November 25, 2018.
Video by Kathy Wittman | Ball Square Films
In Act II of Francesca Caccini's Alcina, the noble magician Melissa has found heroic Ruggerio enchanted by the sorceress Alcina. Scolded, Ruggerio denounces the charms of love and pledges to return to his fate as a warrior. The plants on the island reveal themselves to be previous victims of Alcina and beg Ruggerio to rescue them from their terrible fate.
Originally presented in November 2018, the GRAMMY-winning Boston Early Music Festival will present encore performances of Alcina—the first opera by a woman composer—at the 2023 Boston Early Music Festival, themed A Celebration of Women. Now coming to BEMF's 2023 Virtual Festival this September.
Learn more at bemf.org/2023-festival
Kelsey Lauritano (Melissa), Colin Balzer (Ruggerio), and the BEMF Vocal Ensemble; Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors; Gilbert Blin, Stage Director; Robert Mealy, Concertmaster; Melinda Sullivan, Choreographer. Originally recorded November 25, 2018.
Video by Kathy Wittman | Ball Square Films
