“Giustino” – New production by Theater an der Wien

On 4 December 2019 Händel‘s opera seria “Giustino” will be staged at the Kammeroper.

Fortuna promises the farmhand Giustino honour, glory and wealth if he has the courage to go out into the world. On his way he protects a woman from a bear, and ends up in Byzantium where Emperor Anastasio reigns. The woman Giustino saved is Leocasta, the Emperor’s sister. The Emperor’s wife Arianna has just been kidnapped by the tyrant Vitaliano and he is being threatened by his general Amanzio who wants to be emperor himself. Giustino rescues the Empress, but the thankful behaviour of Arianna causes the jealousy of the Emperor. An intrigue of Amanzio makes him sentence Giustino to death. But Leocasta succeeds in freeing Giustino. Meanwhile Vitaliano plans to take revenge and is about to kill Giustino when he slumbers, but in this moment the two men realise that they are brothers, and together they hurry to Byzantium where they are only just in time to prevent the execution of the Emperor who has been overthrown by Amanzio. All’s well that ends well: Giustino marries Leocasta and is appointed co-regent.

Markellos Chryssicos takes over as conductor, it is already his third time at the Kammeroper. The staging and choreography lies in the hands of young American director James Darrah, who got noted for his versatile projects as director and designer. The title role features countertenor Víctor Jiménez Diaz. With the Junges Ensemble des Theater an der Wien and Bach Consort Vienna.

Opening Night: 4 December 2019, 19:00
7 / 9 / 11 / 14 / 18 / 21 / 28 December 2019 and 2 / 4 January 2020, 19:00