A new work of opera, theatre, and dance
La Doriclea: Inter-Acts at Censored Opera Festival
Friday 11.9. & Saturday 12.9. at 19:00
BLACK BOX, Music House
Mannerheimintie 13, Helsinki. Finland
La Doriclea: Inter-Acts, a new commission from Ensemble Nylandia, follows two colliding timelines: in a 17th-century opera, rival warriors fall in love with each other; in the current day, a group of queer artists survives in dystopian America; music and dance transcend time and weave these worlds closer together until the warrior Doriclea stands face to face with their 21st-century counterpart.
Combining early music, opera, theatre, and dance, the work explores stories of queerness and shifting identities — both in the present day and through the archetypes of myth and opera — and celebrates the discovery of solidarity and freedom through art. The music features excerpts from F. Cavalli’s once-controversial and partially censored opera La Doriclea (1645), alongside works by Byrd, Meder, Marazzoli, and others from the 17th century.
Duration: 2.5 hrs, with intermission
Isabella Shaw, Doriclea
Rachel Fenlon, Eurinda
Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野, Miko
Debi Wong, Dee
Antonia Atarah, Enn
Olga Spyropoulou, director
Matias Häkkinen, conductor
Musicians by Ensemble Nylandia and Weimar Baroque
Alexis Fletcher, choreographer
Victoria Hunter Bell, lighting designer
La Doriclea: Inter-Acts
Co-creators
Victoria Hunter Bell
Isabella Shaw
Olga Spyropoulou
Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野
Debi Wong
Luke Hathaway
Vera Plosila
Matias Häkkinen
Leopold Nicolaus
Alexis Fletcher
Co-producers
- re:Naissance Immersive (CAN)
- Ensemble Nylandia (FIN)
- Fractal Arts Collective (CAN)
- Weimar Baroque (DE)
- Belle Spirale (CAN)
Funders and Supporters
La Doriclea: Inter-Acts has been produced with the support of the International Coproduction Fund (Internationaler Koproduktionsfonds) of the Goethe-Institut (DE), the Kone foundation (FIN), and we acknowledge the support for the Canada Council for the Arts.
