Francesco Cavalli
La Doriclea (1645)
Isabella Shaw as the lead role Doriclea | © Tero Ahonen
Isabella Shaw as the lead role Doriclea | © Tero Ahonen
Francesco Cavalli’s La Doriclea represents a milestone in opera, encompassing the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Based on Giovanni Faustini’s libretto, the opera was censored for its radical portrayal of a queer love story, challenging conventions of gender and sexuality. Now, it returns in a groundbreaking Finnish premiere spanning two production phases.
In November 2024, La Doriclea will debut in a semi-staged concertante version at Dance House Helsinki. This production, led by Matias Häkkinen and Ensemble Nylandia, features intermezzi from the Scandinavian Düben manuscript collection. These works, reflective of the gender non-conformity and real-life history of transgressive/sapphic romance at Queen Christina’s Stockholm court, resonate with Cavalli’s themes. The orchestra Weimar Baroque joins as a key musical partner, continuing a collaboration with Nylandia.
In 2025–26, the project enters its second phase, with a deeper exploration of Faustini’s libretto. In collaboration with re:Opera, music and burlesque artists will create new intermezzi to enhance the opera’s LGBTQ+ narratives. Using extended reality (XR) tools, the production will be captured and distributed globally, extending the reach and impact of the work.
