Xerxes

Music by

G. F. Handel

Metropolitan Opera

New York, US

2011

Sunday
October
30
19:30
Friday
November
04
19:30
Tuesday
November
08
19:30
Friday
November
11
19:30
Wednesday
November
16
19:00
Saturday
November
19
19:30

Cast

Xerxes  Susan Graham
Romilda  Lisette Oropesa
Arsamanes  David Daniels
Atalanta  Heidi Stober
Amastris  Sonia Prina
Ariodates  Wayne Tigges
Elviro  Michael Sumuel

Conductor

Patrick Summers

Production

Nichola Hytner

Director

Michael Walling

Set Designer

David Fielding

Chorusmaster

Ian Robertson

About

MUSIC BY GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Libretto by Anonymous revision of Silvio Stampiglia’s libretto 'Il Xerse,' based on Nicolo Minato’s 'Il Xerse'
COMPANY PREMIERE

Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Handel productions of our time, this visually stunning Olivier Award–winning staging by famed film and theater director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) is the perfect introduction to this Baroque-era masterpiece. Clever comedy is intertwined with tender poignancy in a tale of unrequited love and intrigue at a royal court. Patrick Summers, who conducts Handel with “astounding depth, virtuosity and clarity” (San Francisco Chronicle), leads an outstanding cast featuring Susan Graham, who “does spellbinding justice to Handel’s heavenly music” (The Wall Street Journal), and David Daniels, “the most acclaimed countertenor of the day, perhaps the best ever” (The New York Times).

Media

Xerxes preview from San Francisco Opera

Reviews

Xerxes: Birds and Bees Befuddled

"Making her San Francisco Opera debut, 2005 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions winner Lisette Oropesa as Romilda displayed a most engaging light soprano with an especially lovely top. The highest notes may not boom out, but their sweetness and fragility cuts right to the heart."

—  Jason Victor Serinus  •  San Francisco Classical Voice

San Francisco Opera makes old Persian tale 'Xerxes' fresh

Vocalists, well-balanced and without ego, gave all-around outstanding performances in a true ensemble event

—  Janos Gereben  •  San Francisco Examiner

'Xerxes' review: S.F. Opera triumphs from A to X

Soprano Lisette Oropesa made a superb company debut as Romilda, the object of both royal brothers' affection, her singing bright and precise (if a bit small-scaled) and her phrasing eloquently to the point.

—  Joshua Kosman  •  San Francisco Chronicle

Review: San Francisco's Opera's 'Xerxes' might turn out to be the hit of the season

As Romilda, in her company debut, soprano Lisette Oropesa is a porcelain-fine singer, with ample emotion brewing beneath the exquisite surface.

—  Richard Scheinin  •  Mercury News

Performance History

Lisette has given 6 performances as Romilda.