18th November

Concert will begin at 00:00 hours GMT

Desmarets' 'Circé' with Gauvin, Wakim, Blumberg and Sheehan from Boston

Boston Early Music Festival. Henri Desmarets' 'Circé' is an opera  to a libretto by Louise-Geneviève Gillot de Saintonge, based on the Greek mythological character of that name. Circe appears often in ancient literature as an enchantress well-versed in potions and sorcery, seen at times as the prototype of the sexual and predatory woman. She is best known as a character in Homer's Odyssey, where she falls in love with Odysseus and lures him and his crew to a wine- and potion-laced feast where she turns several of the men into swine. They all remain on her island for a year until she frees them and directs Odysseus home. Performers:

Karina Gauvin: Circé.
Teresa Wakim: Astérie.
Jesse Blumberg: Elphénor.
Aaron Sheehan: Ulisse.
Douglas Williams: Polite.
Amanda Forsythe: Éolie.

Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra. Director: Robert Mealy.

Recorded 9 June 2023.