Carissimi's Oratorios to Play at St. James Cathedral, 1/13-14

On January 13 & 14, Pacific MusicWorks will present fully-staged versions of Carissimi's Old Testament Oratorios. Audiences may come experience Carissimi's renditions of the torments of Job, Abraham's agony over the sacrifice of his son Isaac, and the tragic consequences of Jephtha's oath to God in fully-staged performances. This remarkable program will conclude with Marc-Antoine Charpentier's rarely-heard New Testament drama The Denial of St. Peter. The presentation has musical direction by Stephen Stubbs, stage direction by Guillaume Bernardi, lighting design by Reed Nakayama, and costume Design by Christine Meyers. Performances are January 13-14 at 8pm.

In the mid-17th century, Europe was torn by fratricidal dissension and religious war. In this tragic era, a composer named Giacomo Carissimi composed a series of short musical “stories” (historiae) dramatizing these spiritual conflicts through the medium of Old-Testament tales: the story of Abraham commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac, of Job humiliated by Jehovah's wager with Satan, of the tragic oath of the Hebrew general Jephtah.

Carissimi's music, using all the expressive means of secular opera, challenges Monteverdi's in its drama, depiction of character, and searing emotion. Experience three of his greatest chamber dramas (and one by his student Marc-Antoine Charpentier), played out in the splendid setting of St. James Cathedral, Seattle(804 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA).

Reserved passes are $40 general or suggested donation at the door $35.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://pacificmusicworks.org/content/carissimi-oratorios-prophets.