“The martyrdom of Santa Ferma”, an eighteenth-century opera composed by Antonio Caldara, performed on Friday 19 April, at 7.15 pm, in the cathedral of Civitavecchia, will open the celebrations in honor of Santa Fermina, patron saint of Civitavecchia. This is the first national performance of the oratorio, an eighteenth-century opera, rediscovered in the original score by the musicologist and violinist Annamaria Bonsante, originally from Bari and adopted from Civitavecchia. Its execution, therefore, stands as an event of extraordinary importance and great cultural depth. The initiative is presented by the NavigArte aps cultural association, in collaboration with the Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage Office of the diocese of Civitavecchia-Tarquinia and is supported by the Municipality of Civitavecchia. An ensemble of professionals will be led by maestro Corrado Stocchi, curator of the artistic project with the transcription of the parts, the choice of the arias and the coordination of the artists.
In the idea of an even more accurate cultural study and in respect of what was, the deliberate revival of two elements of the original performance, typical of eighteenth-century practice: the musical part entrusted to a group of seven strings and a harpsichord and, between the five opera singers interpreting the characters of the story, a contralto player in the role of the Saint’s mother. The H Ensemble will perform, consisting of the violins of Corrado Stocchi (concertor), Maria Letizia Beneduce, Camilla Crisostomi and Kazuko Abe, the viola of Emma Ascoli, the cello of Manuel Perez and the double bass of Dario Epifani. Rosalba Lapresentazione on the harpsichord. As for the singers, the role of Santa Fermina goes to Carmen Petrocelli, Carla Tavares will play the angel, the contralto Angelo Bonazzoli will take on the role of the mother, while the roles of Megezio and the minister will be entrusted respectively to Antonio Sapio and Roberto Curione. The complete program of the celebrations for Santa Fermina is available on the website www.chiesadicivitavecchia.it.
Tags: Diocese Civitavecchia tomorrow evening performance martyrdom Santa Ferma opens patronal feast
