NETTUNO // La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Caccini) // Buxton International Festival
A piece of operatic history comes alive with La liberazione di Ruggiero, the first known opera written by a female composer. Premiered in 1625, it’s a vibrant tale of sorcery, temptation and liberation. Ruggiero, a hero with a wandering heart, falls under Alcina’s spell, lost in her glittering illusions. But help arrives through Melissa, who works on behalf of Bradamante, the warrior he truly loves.
With its enchanted creatures, clever humours and sharp storytelling, the opera is both playful and powerful. The Festival honours this remarkable work for what it is: a trailblazing creation that brims with imagination, wit and early Baroque brilliance.
Sung in Italian, with English surtitles.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Alcina Camilla Seale
Ruggiero Jon Stainsby
Melissa Phoebe Rayner
Nettuno Filippo Turkheimer
Nunzia Harriet Burns
Sirena Betty Makharinsky
Una Damigella Aina Miyagi Magnell
Pastore/Astolfo Tom Kelly
The Vache Baroque Band led by Mayah Kadish
Music Director Jonathan Darbourne
Director Eloise Lally
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Choreographer Katie Kelly
Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave
Stage Manager Bekah Tunnell
Italian Coach Valeria Perboni
NETTUNO // La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Caccini) // Buxton International Festival
A piece of operatic history comes alive with La liberazione di Ruggiero, the first known opera written by a female composer. Premiered in 1625, it’s a vibrant tale of sorcery, temptation and liberation. Ruggiero, a hero with a wandering heart, falls under Alcina’s spell, lost in her glittering illusions. But help arrives through Melissa, who works on behalf of Bradamante, the warrior he truly loves.
With its enchanted creatures, clever humours and sharp storytelling, the opera is both playful and powerful. The Festival honours this remarkable work for what it is: a trailblazing creation that brims with imagination, wit and early Baroque brilliance.
Sung in Italian, with English surtitles.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Alcina Camilla Seale
Ruggiero Jon Stainsby
Melissa Phoebe Rayner
Nettuno Filippo Turkheimer
Nunzia Harriet Burns
Sirena Betty Makharinsky
Una Damigella Aina Miyagi Magnell
Pastore/Astolfo Tom Kelly
The Vache Baroque Band led by Mayah Kadish
Music Director Jonathan Darbourne
Director Eloise Lally
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Choreographer Katie Kelly
Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave
Stage Manager Bekah Tunnell
Italian Coach Valeria Perboni
NETTUNO // La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Caccini) // Buxton International Festival
A piece of operatic history comes alive with La liberazione di Ruggiero, the first known opera written by a female composer. Premiered in 1625, it’s a vibrant tale of sorcery, temptation and liberation. Ruggiero, a hero with a wandering heart, falls under Alcina’s spell, lost in her glittering illusions. But help arrives through Melissa, who works on behalf of Bradamante, the warrior he truly loves.
With its enchanted creatures, clever humours and sharp storytelling, the opera is both playful and powerful. The Festival honours this remarkable work for what it is: a trailblazing creation that brims with imagination, wit and early Baroque brilliance.
Sung in Italian, with English surtitles.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Alcina Camilla Seale
Ruggiero Jon Stainsby
Melissa Phoebe Rayner
Nettuno Filippo Turkheimer
Nunzia Harriet Burns
Sirena Betty Makharinsky
Una Damigella Aina Miyagi Magnell
Pastore/Astolfo Tom Kelly
The Vache Baroque Band led by Mayah Kadish
Music Director Jonathan Darbourne
Director Eloise Lally
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Choreographer Katie Kelly
Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave
Stage Manager Bekah Tunnell
Italian Coach Valeria Perboni
NETTUNO // La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Caccini) // Buxton International Festival
A piece of operatic history comes alive with La liberazione di Ruggiero, the first known opera written by a female composer. Premiered in 1625, it’s a vibrant tale of sorcery, temptation and liberation. Ruggiero, a hero with a wandering heart, falls under Alcina’s spell, lost in her glittering illusions. But help arrives through Melissa, who works on behalf of Bradamante, the warrior he truly loves.
With its enchanted creatures, clever humours and sharp storytelling, the opera is both playful and powerful. The Festival honours this remarkable work for what it is: a trailblazing creation that brims with imagination, wit and early Baroque brilliance.
Sung in Italian, with English surtitles.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Alcina Camilla Seale
Ruggiero Jon Stainsby
Melissa Phoebe Rayner
Nettuno Filippo Turkheimer
Nunzia Harriet Burns
Sirena Betty Makharinsky
Una Damigella Aina Miyagi Magnell
Pastore/Astolfo Tom Kelly
The Vache Baroque Band led by Mayah Kadish
Music Director Jonathan Darbourne
Director Eloise Lally
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Choreographer Katie Kelly
Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave
Stage Manager Bekah Tunnell
Italian Coach Valeria Perboni
Duo Turkheimer-Kulikova // Tour of Italy // Ispica
Italy recital tour with pianist Anastasia Kulikova, promoted by the Associazione Culturare Musicale ‘Euphonia’. Programme to feature R. Schumann’s Dichterliebe.More info coming soon…
Duo Turkheimer-Kulikova // Tour of Italy //
Italy recital tour with pianist Anastasia Kulikova, promoted by the Associazione Culturale Musicale ‘Euphonia’. Programme to feature R. Schumann’s Dichterliebe. More info coming soon…
TOUR // Le Nuove Musiche // Slovak Philharmonic
Filippo joins Slovakian group Le Nuove Musiche once more as a ensemble member/step-out soloist. The programme features sacred vocal works by Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák the Elder) and Zacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky)—key figures of early Baroque music in Central Europe—alongside grand polychoral motets from Giovanni Gabrieli, drawn from his landmark Symphoniae sacrae (1615), representing the splendour of the Venetian tradition.Programme:Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Siehe, wie fein und lieblich ist´s / Nach dir Herr, verlanget michZacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky): O Jesu mi dulcissime / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren / Der Tag der ist so freudenreichJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Singet dem Herren ein neues LiedGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Jubilate Deo omnis terra / Quem vidistis pastores / Surrexit Christus et Dominus de caelo intonuit / In ecclesiis benedicite Domino alleluiaJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Ach Herr, wie sind meiner Feinde so vielGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Suscipe clementissime Deus / Misericordia tua, Domine / Buccinate in Neomenia tubaSource: Gesamtkunstwerk.eu
TOUR // Le Nuove Musiche // Bardejov
Filippo joins Slovakian group Le Nuove Musiche once more as a ensemble member/step-out soloist. The programme features sacred vocal works by Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák the Elder) and Zacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky)—key figures of early Baroque music in Central Europe—alongside grand polychoral motets from Giovanni Gabrieli, drawn from his landmark Symphoniae sacrae (1615), representing the splendour of the Venetian tradition.Programme:Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Siehe, wie fein und lieblich ist´s / Nach dir Herr, verlanget michZacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky): O Jesu mi dulcissime / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren / Der Tag der ist so freudenreichJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Singet dem Herren ein neues LiedGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Jubilate Deo omnis terra / Quem vidistis pastores / Surrexit Christus et Dominus de caelo intonuit / In ecclesiis benedicite Domino alleluiaJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Ach Herr, wie sind meiner Feinde so vielGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Suscipe clementissime Deus / Misericordia tua, Domine / Buccinate in Neomenia tubaSource: Gesamtkunstwerk.eu
TOUR // Le Nuove Musiche // Festival Košická
Filippo joins Slovakian group Le Nuove Musiche once more as a ensemble member/step-out soloist. The programme features sacred vocal works by Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák the Elder) and Zacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky)—key figures of early Baroque music in Central Europe—alongside grand polychoral motets from Giovanni Gabrieli, drawn from his landmark Symphoniae sacrae (1615), representing the splendour of the Venetian tradition.Programme:Johann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Siehe, wie fein und lieblich ist´s / Nach dir Herr, verlanget michZacharias Zarevutius (Zachariáš Zarevúcky): O Jesu mi dulcissime / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren / Der Tag der ist so freudenreichJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Singet dem Herren ein neues LiedGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Jubilate Deo omnis terra / Quem vidistis pastores / Surrexit Christus et Dominus de caelo intonuit / In ecclesiis benedicite Domino alleluiaJohann Schimrack (Ján Šimrák st.): Ach Herr, wie sind meiner Feinde so vielGiovanni Gabrieli: Symphoniae sacrae, Liber secundus (1615): Suscipe clementissime Deus / Misericordia tua, Domine / Buccinate in Neomenia tubaSource: Gesamtkunstwerk.eu
Parnassus Ensemble // 3in1 Interdisciplinary Project // Purbeck
An immersive interdisciplinary performance, 3in1 brings together the Parnassus Ensemble and visual artist Jérémie Queyras, combining early music by Pachelbel, Kuhnau and J. S. Bach with live painting on three large canvases and contemporary texts to create a vivid dialogue between sound, image and word.
SongEasel Festival Recital // Jocelyn Freeman
Sweet Harmony Song Exchange
The Day of Dreams concludes with our first ever Song Exchange, combining the haunting melodies of Persian song with the intimate Lied tradition, woven together with live cello improvisations.The recital features Kian Ravaei’s Gulistan alongside an evocative new commission from Composer in Residence, Emily Hazrati, paired with works by Schubert, Fauré and both Gustav and Alma Mahler. Inspired by the 14th-century poet Hafiz’s utopian visions of harmony and Goethe’s stirring response, his West-Eastern Divan, pianist Jocelyn Freeman curates a thoughtfully interwoven programme with emerging artists for an heart-warming culmination to our 2026 Festival.
Negin Razzaghi soprano
Filippo Turkheimer baritone
Joe Zeitlin cello
Jocelyn Freeman piano
Parnassus Ensemble // 3in1 Interdisciplinary Project // London
An immersive interdisciplinary performance, 3in1 brings together the Parnassus Ensemble and visual artist Jérémie Queyras, combining settings of ‘Christ lag in Todesbanden’ by Pachelbel, Kuhnau and J. S. Bach with live painting on three large canvases and contemporary texts to create a vivid dialogue between sound, image and word.