The resurrection of the operas of Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676) continues with Elena—centering on Helen of Troy—which has not been produced in full form since its 1659 Venetian premiere. As is evident in this staging by Jean-Yves Ruf at the 2013 Aix-en-Provence Festival, the libretto is hardly Homeric: here, the courtship of Helen by Menelaus finds the latter disguising himself as an Amazon called Elisa in order to get closer to the object of his desire. The imposture is apparently convincing, since Elisa attracts Helen's father, King Tyndareus, who becomes infatuated with “her.” Meanwhile, Theseus (not Paris) plans to abduct Helen—which requires him to dump his lover, Hippolyta. As if that weren't enough, others also have designs on Elisa and Helen, and the entire crazy business is portrayed as the work of goddesses Juno, Athena, and Venus, who are quarreling about which of them should receive the golden apple denoting supreme beauty. Elena mixes comedy with passionate drama, a combination that comes off splendidly in this simply mounted production. The young singers are uniformly excellent, with countertenor Valer Barna-Sabadus the standout as Menelaus, accompanied with spirit and feeling by the original-instrument group Cappella Mediterranea under the baton of Leonardo García Alarcón. Presented in stereo, this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)
Elena
(2013) 2 discs. 177 min. In Italian w/English subtitles. DVD: $44.99. Ricercar (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 30, Issue 1
Elena
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