On 5 and 6 February 2022, the two premieres of the opera Alcina by G. F. Händel took place in Janáček Theatre Brno, performed by Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704 conducted by Václav Luks. The title role of Alcina was presented in two alternations: Pavla Vykopalová from National Theatre Brno and Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin, who performed with Collegium 1704 also at the Missa 1724 at the Rudolfinum on 15 February 2022. Other roles are performed by Kangmin Justin Kim, Mirella Hagen, Krystian Adam, Václava Krejčí Housková, Monika Jägerová, Tomáš Král and others.

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The opera production follows the successful and acclaimed performance of Vivaldi´s Arsilda at the Slovakian national theatre in Bratislava in 2017. Koproducers are similarly Opéra Royal de Versailles and Théâtre de Caen. In Brno, there are three performances coming on 12, 13 and 18 February followed by three shows in Versailles on 11, 12 and 13 March and two in Caen on 5 and 6 May 2022.

What is the biggest challenge for the role of Alcina? What emotions does the character go through? How does the singer feel working with the director Jiří Heřman? You will find out from the interview with the Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin, that is going to perform Alcina.

“In singer´s life, there are many challenges – we live every day knowing, that our instrument lives in our body all the time. When something is not right, emotionally, physically or mentally, it could be difficult to focus on the voice. On the other hand, sometimes, when everything goes wrong, singing could be an ally and friend.” This is Karina Gauvin´s answer to the question, what is the singer´s biggest challenge, in an interview for Harmonie magazine from June 2021 (published in the Czech language).

Conductor Václav Luks speaks about the musical preparations of the opera in an interview for Harmonie magazine from February 2022. “It is necessary to ask, what was the autor´s message and what emotions did he intend to rise in his spectators and try to achieve a similar effect with today´s audience.  Our possibilities are unlimited without the need to cripple the piece itself.”

What is the central idea of Brno production of Alcina? It is the fatal relationship – love, answers the stage director Jiří Heřman.

Opera event of the year – that is the description of the new production of Alcina from the reporter in the Czech TV. Visit one of the first stage rehearsals!