Heinrich, der Löwe
- Location:
- Wilhelma Theater, Neckartalstr. 9, 70376 Stuttgart
Agostino Steffani (1654–1728)
HENRICO LEONE
Jake Arditti | Henrico Leone
Anna Bonitatibus | Metilda
Sebastian Röhrle | Narrator
il Gusto Barocco
Jörg Halubek | Harpsichord & Musical Director
Markus Bothe | Stage Director
The opera portrays a prince caught between politics, faith, and personal loyalty. At the center is Mechtilde, his wife—a figure torn between love, dynastic duty, and religious conviction. Agostino Steffani, one of the most influential opera composers around 1700, crafts a rich and varied musical drama from this material.
The arias are short, often already composed in da capo form, and predominantly accompanied by basso continuo; the recitatives are artfully and dramatically set. In addition to the overture and symphonies, the orchestra joins in primarily during key moments to highlight turning points in the plot and emotional intensity. Based on the German-language Stuttgart adaptation from 1701, actor Sebastian Röhrle guides the audience through this concert-style opera evening in our performance.
Concert performance with scenic elements; duration approximately 3 hours, including an intermission.