The GRAMMY-winning Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Opera Series presents Stellidaura’s Revenge by Francesco Provenzale on Thanksgiving weekend in Boston
Cambridge, MA – The GRAMMY Award-winning Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Opera Series returns on Thanksgiving weekend with an all-new production of Stellidaura’s Revenge by Italian Baroque composer Francesco Provenzale. A courtly love triangle is torn apart by violent passions in this sultry romp from the Neopolitan Riveria, circa 1674. The production will be performed twice in Boston on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30 before a virtual presentation from Sunday, December 14 through Sunday, December 28.
When her beloved is shot by the jealous rival, Stellidaura is out for REVENGE! Provenzale, a hugely influential figure in Neapolitan opera, wrote this zany tragicomedy to be performed at a prince’s summer palazzo in 1674. Breathtaking laments combine with lively tarantellas to produce a wildly entertaining cavalcade of romance, murder, and intrigue. Follow our star-crossed lovers as they navigate mistaken identities, bumbling servants, and attempted assassinations to find out whether they are destined for a happy ending or an early grave. Enjoy this earthy, Shakespearean drama, full of twists and turns and set to one of the most beautiful musical scores of the 17th century.
GRAMMY-winning Musical Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs join with internationally acclaimed Stage Director Gilbert Blin to create this all-new production featuring captivating musicianship, lively staging, and lavish costumes. The stellar cast features soprano Hannah De Priest as vengeful Stellidaura, GRAMMY-winning tenor Aaron Sheehan as jealous Prince Orismondo, tenor Richard Pittsinger as loyal Armidoro, and baritone Giuseppe Naviglio and soprano Mara Riley as the long-suffering servants. Rounding out the directorial team for this must-see operatic event are Concertmaster Robert Mealy leading the all-star BEMF Chamber Ensemble, Movement Director Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière, Costume Designer Seth Bodie, and Executive Producer Kathleen Fay.
ABOUT THE BEMF CHAMBER OPERA SERIES
Hailed by the Boston Globe for “vivid performance,” since 2008 the BEMF Chamber Opera Series has taken the internationally acclaimed musicianship, scholarship, and direction showcased in BEMF’s fully staged Festival operas and focused it on small-scale works in intimate productions each Thanksgiving weekend. BEMF has taken a number of these productions on tour with performances in New York City, Miami, Kansas City, and Seattle, as well as international destinations in Canada, Sweden, and Germany. BEMF’s studio recording of Charpentier’s La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers and La Couronne de Fleurs was awarded the 2015 GRAMMY Award for Best Opera Recording.
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Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Opera Series Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors Hannah De Priest, Stellidaura Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble |
| LOCATION: | Saturday, November 30, 2025 at 8pm ET Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 3pm ET New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA Virtual Premiere: Sunday, December 13, 2025 at 8pm ET |
| TICKETS: | Tickets for the Boston performances are priced at $140, $105, $70, $55, and $35 for the in-person performance, and $25 for the virtual event. All Boston tickets include a complimentary ticket for the virtual performance. To purchase tickets, visit BEMF.org or call the BEMF Box Office at 617-661-1812. Discounts are available for students and seniors. |
PRE-OPERA TALK
Join us one hour before each performance for an engaging talk featuring the Directorial Team.
COMMUNITY DANCE WORKSHOP
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 1:15pm ET
Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA
Dancing at the 17th Century Court
Join Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière, Dance Director of the Boston Early Music Festival, for a joyful introduction to the elegant dances once performed in the royal courts of Europe. Discover the gestures, rhythms, and grace that shaped social life in the 17th century—and experience the pleasure of moving to history’s music. No prior dance experience is needed and adults and children of all ages are welcome. Low-heeled, soft shoes and comfortable clothing are recommended.
ABOUT THE BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL:
Recognized as the preeminent early music presenter and Baroque opera producer in North America, the Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) has been credited with securing Boston’s reputation as “America’s early music capital” (The Boston Globe). Founded in 1981, BEMF offers diverse programs and activities, including one GRAMMY Award–winning and five GRAMMY Award–nominated opera recordings, an annual concert series that features early music’s brightest stars on the BEMF concert stage, and a biennial week-long Festival and Exhibition recognized as the “world’s leading festival of early music” (The Times, London). The 24th Boston Early Music Festival will take place from June 6 to 13, 2027, and will feature a fully staged production of Telemann’s Emma und Eginhard. BEMF’s Artistic Leadership includes Artistic Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, Opera Director Gilbert Blin, Orchestra Director Robert Mealy, and Dance Director Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière.
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