Il Bajazet

"Il Bajazet" was commissioned in 1735 to open the carnival season in Verona. Antonio Vivaldi chose a libretto by Agostino Piovene based on the well-known story of the defeated Ottoman sultan king Bajazet, who is taken captive by Tamerlane, who falls in love with Bajazet's proud daughter Asteria. Vivaldi was already advanced in age when he completed the opera. He adapted his music to contemporary taste and used the pasticcio form by incorporating several arias from other, mostly Neapolitan composers. At that time it was perfectly acceptable to incorporate arias in this way and such works enjoyed great popularity. Conductor and Vivaldi specialist Federico Maria Sardelli integrated long-forgotten arias, used historically informed orchestration and made the opera a rich theatrical experience. Renato Dolcini sings the title role - Italian opera from the 17th and 18th centuries is central to his repertoire, so he is destined for it. He has sung important roles at the Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne, Amsterdam etc. and has worked with the world's most sought-after directors such as Graham Vick and Barrie Kosky. The New York Times wrote: "Renato Dolcini fully embodies the mad scene of Orlando and would certainly have set the stage ablaze - if it had been there".