Steffani, Agostino (1654-1728) Niobe (Laszczkowski, Gens, Hengelbrock, ROH)

Tom McKinney presents Agostino Steffani's Niobe, regina di Tebe

A rare chance to hear Agostino Steffani's Niobe, from the Royal Opera House in London. Based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, it tells the story of Queen Niobe whose pride insults the Gods. As punishment, her children are killed and in her grief she turns to stone. Veronique Gens sings Niobe, and male soprano Jacek Laszczkowski her husband Anfione, a role originally written for a castrato. Thomas Hengelbrock conducts his own Balthasar Neumann Ensemble, and discusses why Steffani's music, which had such an influence on Handel, deserves to become better known.

Anfione ..... Jacek Laszczkowski (Soprano)
Niobe ..... Veronique Gens (Soprano)
Nerea ..... Delphine Galou (Contralto)
Clearte ..... Tim Mead (Alto)
Tiberino ..... Lothar Odinius (Tenor)
Manto ..... Amanda Forsythe (Soprano)
Tiresia ..... Bruno Taddia (Baritone)
Poliferno ..... Alastair Miles (Bass)
Creonte ..... Iestyn Davies (Countertenor)

Balthasar Neumann Ensemble
Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor)

Broadcast: May 2021, BBC Radio 3
Recorded at the ROH in 2015