Chautauqua Institution

Alcina the sorceress lives on her island where she has turned her lovers into rocks, beasts, and waves. She derives her power from mirrors and reflections, making people see what she wants them to. However, she is now sensing her own fading beauty…

Alcina has enchanted the hero Ruggiero, husband of Bradamante, and he is under her spell.

Bradamante arrives on Alcina's island with Ruggiero's former tutor, Melisso, searching for him. She disguises herself as her own brother, Ricciardo.

The first person they meet is the sorceress Morgana. She immediately abandons her own lover Oronte for the handsome 'Ricciardo.' Morgana conveys the visitors to Alcina's court, where Bradamante sees Ruggiero enamored with the witch.

Oberto is looking for his father, Astolfo. Bradamante guesses that Astolfo has been transformed by Alcina.

Oronte discovers that Morgana has fallen in love with 'Ricciardo,' and challenges 'him' to a duel. Morgana stops the fight. Oronte seeks revenge by convincing Ruggiero that Alcina is in love with Ricciardo.

Alcina tells Morgana that she plans to turn Ricciardo into a beast. Morgana begs Ricciardo to escape the island and Alcina's clutches. Ricciardo (Bradamante) convinces Morgana that ‘he’ loves her.

Melisso pretends he is Ruggiero’s old tutor, Atlante, and forces Ruggiero to remember who he once was. He is himself again but when he sees Bradamante, he believes it is another act of sorcery.

ACT TWO

Ruggiero is still conflicted. Who should he believe? Alcina enters to turn Ricciardo into an animal, but Ruggiero finds himself again and pretends he is still in love with her.

Oronte realizes that Ricciardo, Melisso and Ruggiero are in some sort of alliance, and Morgana and Alcina realise they are being deceived. He tells Alcina that she has been betrayed. Alcina tries to call evil spirits to stop Ruggiero from leaving her, but her magic fails her.

Morgana and Oronte try to rebuild their relationship; she returns to him and he rebuffs her but admits he loves her still. Alcina, fearing Oberto, tries to get him to kill himself but he overcomes her spell recognizing his father in himself.

Bradamante and Ruggiero decide that they need to destroy the source of Alcina's magic. Alcina pleads with them, but Ruggiero tears the veil of Alcina, destroying her and Morgana. The world is restored to truth and beauty.

About the Opera Conservatory

The Chautauqua Opera Conservatory is an intensive educational program that seeks to offer the highest caliber of training for the young singer, 18 and older. Under the leadership of Marlena Kleinman Malas*, a select group of 20 singers study, coach and perform in an idyllic setting on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.

*The Chautauqua Community joins the world in mourning the passing of Marlena Malas on December 4, 2023. We honor her more than four decades of leadership and service to our Opera Conservatory.

Cast

Alcina - Jiyu Kim, Juliet Rand (cover)

Bradamante - Natalie Corrigan

Melisso - Minghang Wang

Morgana - Adriana Stepien, Charlotte Jakobs (cover)

Oberto - Shikta Mukherjee

Oronte - Anthony Voiers: 7/16, Ghalip Ekber: 7/18

Ruggiero - Sam Higgins

Cast Bios

Natalie Corrigan

Bradamante

Ghalip Ekber