IL GIASONE
DRAMA MUSICALE BY FRANCESCO CAVALLI
MORE PHOTOS WILL BE PUBLISHED AT A LATER MOMENT
PHOTOS © Thilo Beu 2025
PRODUCTION
Theater Münster
intendant: Katharina Kost-Tolmein
première: 31 May 2025
conductor: Clemens Flick
stage director / set design: Michiel Dijkema
costumes: Mariangela Mazzeo
light design: Jörg Schwarzer
dramaturgy: Ana Edroso Stroebe
Sole: Ludwig Obst
Amore: Dora Pavlíková
Giove: Kihoon Yoo
Giasone: Benjamin Lyko
Ercole: Gregor Dalal
Besso: Kihoon Yoo
Isifile: Robyn Allegra Parton
Oreste: Oscar Marin-Reyes
Alinda: Dora Pavlíková
Medea: Wioletta Hebrowska
Delfa: Fritz Spengler
Egeo: Youn-Seong Shim
Demo: Ludwig Obst
Sinfonieorchester Münster
opera chorus of the Theater Münster
extras of the Theater Münster
PRESS QUOTES
„Rarely has so much laughter filled an opera première.“
“How does the Theater Münster tackle the rarely performed opera Il Giasone by Francesco Cavalli? In short: not too seriously — and with plenty of spectacle. The trigger warning issued in advance because of the enormous spider was well warranted. The monstrous creature Jason must defeat to claim the magical Golden Fleece swings its giant legs right into the front rows of the audience. Michiel Dijkema’s production, with its lush baroque aesthetic, is a feast for the senses. […] Yet, for all the visual splendor, humor takes center stage — and how. Rarely has so much laughter filled an opera première. […] The applause starts even before the music ends. The ensemble has to briefly rein in the audience so their singing isn’t drowned out — a rare occurrence. “Basta!”: Now there’s absolutely no stopping the ovation.”
Robin Gerke
Westfälische Nachrichten
Münstersche Zeitung
1 June 2025
„dazzling, colorful, entertaining“
“Last night’s opera production at Münster’s main stage was something quite different. With Il Giasone, directed by Michiel Dijkema and conducted by Clemens Flick, the ensemble rightly received enthusiastic acclaim. […] A dazzling, colorful, entertaining production.”
Burkard Knöpker
Erlesenes Münster
1 June 2025
„an outstanding staging in every respect“
“An outstanding staging in every respect […] With Cavalli, one gains a glimpse into the origins of the popular genre of opera. Michiel Dijkema’s production not only succeeds in doing justice to the 400-year-old work, but also, with its effective staging, transports the audience into an overwhelming overall concept. In each of the 22 pictures, the opera’s expressive vitality, humor, and passion are brought vividly to life. All of this overflows in a vibrant, imaginative, and humorous design, expressed through poetic imagery […] This production was therefore received with the greatest enthusiasm by the premiere audience — and deservedly so.”
Jonathan Rochol
Die Glocke
3 June 2025
„Dijkema masterfully revives the Baroque tradition of grand stagecraft and lively popular theater.“
“Director Michiel Dijkema, who is not only a stage director but also a set designer with a wonderfully vivid imagination – and, on top of that, a pianist and song accompanist – turned the production of Cavalli’s Giasone in Münster into a visual, musical, and theatrical delight. [...] While one might expect that the many rapid scene changes – with 22 tableaux and no fewer than 13 solo roles – would present a logistical challenge, the audience in Münster was astonished by the virtuosity with which Dijkema navigated Cavalli’s opulent operatic spectacle. [...] Dijkema masterfully revives the Baroque tradition of grand stagecraft and lively popular theater. The action is fast-paced and dynamic, with one scene flowing seamlessly into the next, leaving no room for boredom.”
Elisabeth Richter
Deutschlandfunk / Musikjournal
2 June 2025
„Michiel Dijkema takes the high entertainment value very seriously“
“The directing team led by Michiel Dijkema takes the high entertainment value the work was intended to have for its original audience very seriously, further expanding on the playful handling of the mythological material. Instead of a dragon, the guardian of the Golden Fleece is a giant spider, impressively brought to life on stage. With its enormous legs, the spider extends over the orchestra pit, almost reaching the front rows of the audience. […] All of this is presented with a sophisticated direction of the actors and an absolutely playful ensemble, in a humorous and entertaining way […] There are huge cheers and standing ovations for everyone involved.”
Thomas Molke
OMM / Online Musik Magazin
1 June 2025
„A true coup de théâtre.“
“Dijkema weaves all of this with astonishing agility and nimbleness into the work’s dramaturgy, which was, considering the year of its premiere in 1649, highly advanced. At times, elements of tragedy and comedy interact to the point of being indistinguishable. The central figures are never to be taken entirely seriously, but by no means does Dijkema expose them entirely to ridicule. [...] Dijkema’s stage is a pure feast for the eyes. Refined lighting immerses the stage in occasional baroque blazes of color, dramatic chiaroscuro, or, during the conjuring of underworld spirits, a magical fire, as specialized painters of the Dutch Golden Age did. In every scene a few set pieces are sufficient to suggest the respective setting. The guardian monster of the Golden Fleece, meanwhile, is a giant spider whose legs extend from the ramp to the parapet of the orchestra pit. A true coup de théâtre. For the Argo, Dijkema hybridizes an ancient Greek sailing ship with an inflatable boat.”
Concerti
Michael Kaminski
2 June 2025