Description
We’re excited to present our theatrical production of 2026, bringing to life the magic of baroque opera. Pre-dating the modern opera tradition, whose roots lie in the 19th century, baroque opera is a distinctive art form with the character, grace and charm of a hippogriff in full flight!
On 11 October, we’re bringing a semi-staged production of Furioso, our cycle of “mini-operas,” to Wellington.
We created Furioso in 2023 from short condensations of three baroque operas, each based on related episodes from Ludovico Ariosto’s 16th century epic poem, Orlando Furioso: Francesca Caccini’s La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (1625), Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Roland (1685), and Antonio Vivaldi’s Orlando Furioso (1714 and 1728).
The Queen’s Closet, working once again with stage director Jacqui Coats, will immerse you in a historically researched, yet thoroughly modern, experience of baroque opera spanning over 100 years of changing musical style. We showcase the dazzling range of musical colours, styles and sound worlds, performed as always on a full palette of historical instruments, that typified each of these operas … all while telling Ariosto’s delightful story featuring a revolving cast of characters including knights, princesses, sorceresses … and that hippogriff we mentioned earlier!
Please join us at 2pm on Sunday 11 October 2026 at the Hunter Lounge at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington for this special event.
The recommended ticket price is between $55, but you can choose any amount from $25 🙂 .
