Monteverdi’s Return of Ulysses – Wolf Trap Opera Company (2009) – We Love DC
Wolf Trap Opera: Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria
It’s a July evening and Claudio Monteverdi’s 1640 opera Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria is being performed. Everything the modern viewer loves is right there in this evocative and entertaining Ulysses. Throughout the performance the stage backdrop changed fluidly from one weather phenomenon to another. It was powerful and complementary without being obtrusive.
The production was itself hilarious. Director James Marvel has made especial fools out of the three suitors, a highly enjoyable chorus of buffoonery. This 2009 Ulisse resonates and its age is no impediment to its relatability. It had enough vocal talent for ardent opera lovers and enough theater for someone who might otherwise balk at the genre.