'The Enchanted Island' Revival Continues Baroque Resurgence at the Metropolitan Opera

On Feb. 26 the Metropolitan Opera will revive Phelim McDermott's production of "The Enchanted Island."

The opera, based on Shakespeare's "Midsummer's Night Dream" and "The Tempest," was the first pastiche to be presented at the Metropolitan Opera in 2011. The work premiered on New Year's Eve and included a number of works from Antonio Vivaldi, George Frederic Handel, and Jean-Philippe Rameau.

For the Met's production famed British theater director Jeremy Sams created new text for the arias and the storyline for the work. The work brings together situations and characters from the two Shakespeare plays: the four lovers from "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" are shipwrecked during their honeymoon voyage on Prospero's island from "The Tempest." In addition to the characters found in the original plays, "The Enchanted Island" imagines the sorceress Sycorax—who is mentioned in "The Tempest" but never appears on stage—vying with Prospero for control of the island.

The musical selections that were used were chosen by conductor William Christie, Sams and the singers from the premiere of the opera. However some of the pieces that ended up in the score are relatively unknown to audiences today. The opera begins with Handel's "Alcina" overture, which is one of the few popular pieces in the score.

Other popular pieces that are used in the score include Vivaldi's "Agitata da due Venti" from "Griselda." The aria was renamed "Can You Feel the Heavens Are Reeling" and subverts the work into a celebration rather than an expression of anger.

The opera also includes works from Handel's "Teseo," "Partenope," "Tamerlano" and "Judas Maccabaeus." It also includes works from Rameau's "Platee," Vivalid's "Argippo," "Bajazet" and "Tito Manlio."

The work requires a total of three tenor roles, five soprano roles, two mezzo-soprano roles, two countertenors and two bass-baritones. On opening night, famed mezzo Joyce DiDonato sang the role of Sycorax alongside countertenor David Daniels as Prospero. Placido Doimingo played the role of Neptune and soprano Danielle DiNiese played the role of Ariel. Luca Pisaroni sang the role of Caliban while Anthony Roth Costanzo played Ferdinand.

Critics received the work's premiere enthusiastically. "The score is a fun melange of greatest 18th-century hits, and the second act is pacier, galvanised by an early Handel ensemble," the Guardian reported. "The Met Creates a Perfect Storm in 'Enchanted Island,'" read a headline on WQXR.

The Met has neglected Baroque works in its repertoire for many years. The first Baroque work presented at the Met was in 1960 with Handel's "Alceste." In 1984 the Met showed "Rinaldo," which showcased Samuel Ramey and Marilyn Horne. In 1986, the theater premiered the composer's "Samson" with Jon Vickers and in 1988 the company premiered "Giulio Cesare." In 2004 the company premiered "Rodelinda" with Renee Fleming. Since then the company has only shown "Giulio Cesare" and "Rodelinda." 

This year "The Enchanted Island" will reunite Daniels, Domingo, Pisaroni, Costanzo, and de Niese. Susan Graham will take over the role of Sycorax and Andriana Chuchman will join the cast as Miranda.

The performance will be conducted by Patrick Summers and it will be presented seven times this season.