L'OLIMPIADE
Opera Magazine
“Vache Baroque demonstrates that it is fast becoming a valuable forum for imaginative and vital re-engagement with little-known repertoire from [the baroque era]”
Opera Today
“Vividly virtuosic singing”
Planet Hugill
The libretto of L’Olimpiade or The Olympiad was set to music by over fifty composers, making it one of the most popular in opera history. Based on the story of the ‘Trial of the Suitors’ by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, it has all the materials necessary for a work of high drama – loyal friends, crossed lovers, secret backstories, deception, disguise, and possible ruin. For our 2024 Summer production, a cast of seven delivered the story through Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s thrilling Italian arias and a newly-created English script by director Laura Attridge. In true VB Festival fashion the grounds became an extension of the stage, with sports-themed activities and immersive elements from the ‘Trial’ filling the hours before the main show.
Saturday 31 August & Sunday 1 September 2025
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September 2025
RELAXED PERFORMANCE
On Saturday 7 September 2024 we held our very first Relaxed performance!
A shortened version of our 2024 opera, specially curated for a more ‘relaxed’ experience. Everyone was welcome to attend, including families with babies or very young children and those with learning disabilities, neurological conditions or movement disorders.
LICIDA Aiofe Miskelly
ARISTEA Nazan Fikret
MEGACLE Natasha Page
CLISTENE Bechara Moufarrej
ARGENE Shafali Jalota
ALCANDRO Frances Gregory
AMINTA Robert Forrest
MUSIC DIRECTOR Jonathan Darbourne
DIRECTOR; SCRIPT WRITER Laura Attridge
DESIGNER Caitlin Abbott
LIGHTING DESIGNER Josie Ireland
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Ami Nagano
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Rachel Wise
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER Sophie Andrews
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER Eli Hunt
REPETITEUR Makoto James
SOUND Martin Audio
VIOLIN I (PRINCIPAL) Sophia Prodanova
VIOLIN II Maxim Del Mar
VIOLIN III (PRINCIPAL 2nd) Naomi Burrell
VIOLIN IV Charlotte Fairbairn
VIOLA Thomas Kettle
OBOE I Geoff Coates
OBOE II Joel Raymond
HORN I Isaac Shieh
HORN II Anna Drysdale
TRUMPET I Stephen Cutting
TRUMPET II Katie Lodge
THEORBO Kristiina Watt
CELLO Gavin Kibble
DOUBLE BASS Carina Cosgrave
TIMPANI Tony Lucas
SOPRANO COVER Iuno Connolly
SOPRANO COVER Naho Koizumi
MEZZO SOPRANO COVER Phoebe Rayner
TENOR COVER Michael Lafferty
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER Beri Valentine
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Phil Clack
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Phoebe Benson