The legend of Prince Hamlet, as told in Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus served as the basis for Shakespeare's tragedy. But it also inspired a number of Italian operas of the 18ᵉ century. One thing these operas have in common: they are all lost! It was the meticulous research and restoration work of musicologist Paolo Vittorio Montanari that enabled us to come up with this totally original project based on fragments found in various Italian libraries. This previously unpublished music by Scarlatti, Gasparini, Carcani and Vignati is mainly inspired by two female characters revolving around Hamlet: the romantic Veremonda (whom Shakespeare calls Ophelia) and Hamlet's mother Gerilda (Gertrude), torn between love for her son and passion for her cold, unfaithful husband.
Roberta Mameli, a charismatic and passionate soprano, interprets these different figures who inspired Scarlatti and his contemporaries to write expressive, brilliant and charming arias. As well as the pleasure of discovering these completely new musical gems, this project will transport you into the exciting, ambiguous and fascinating world of Hamlet, whose ghosts will enliven this lovely stroll through a rediscovered baroque Italy.
Take part in the worldwide distribution of this programme by pre-purchasing your CD autographed by Franck-Emmanuel Comte! As well as the pleasure of discovering these completely new musical gems, this project transports us into the exciting, ambiguous and fascinating world of Hamlet, whose ghosts will animate this lovely ballad in a rediscovered baroque Italy: to bring this great adventure to a successful conclusion, pre-purchase your CD and support the recording of these previously unreleased works and the world tour of this project!
