Conductor Gary Thor Wedow will lead Juilliard Opera’s upcoming production of Handel’s rarely performed opera Atalanta, a joyous romantic comedy brimming with flirtation and intrigue. Directed by Omer Ben Seadia, the new production runs November 9-13 at Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater, and will feature singers from the Juilliard Vocal Arts Program and the school’s period-instrument ensemble, Juilliard415, under Wedow’s baton.
Renowned for his dramatically exciting and historically informed performances of opera, oratorio, and symphonic works throughout North America, Wedow has received acclaim from The New York Times and Opera News, which praised his “hot music-making” and “convincingly elegant period style.”
As a member of the Vocal Arts faculty at Juilliard, Wedow’s performances of Atalanta mark the latest chapter in a history of superlative performances of Handel operas he’s led at Juilliard, which have included Teseo and Ariodante. For Wedow, returning to Handel’s operas is always a joy — and a reminder of why he pursued conducting in the first place.
“From the very beginning, Handel has been at the heart of my career. Though I studied as a pianist with virtuoso Jorge Bolet, my first professional job was as associate conductor with the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston, under Thomas Dunn.”
“I’ve conducted many Baroque masterworks since then with both modern and period orchestras, but I always circle back to Handel. His operas and oratorios excite me for their perfect marriage of text to music, their sublime architecture, and the mind-blowing theatricality of the music.”
Performances of Atalanta will take place Wednesday, November 9, and Friday, November 11, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, November 13, at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $40 and available for purchase at juilliard.edu. All three performances will also be live-streamed on the Juilliard School’s website.
