Like a vast, bejewelled procession through the streets of a Baroque city, L’oracolo in Messenia moves slowly, but constantly fascinates, glittering with vocal ornament and glowing with emotions: rage, lust, greed, aggression, idealism and love, all underscored by some of the most demanding coloratura I have ever heard. Indeed, from a stately, even slow start, this opera becomes one of the most intense performance experiences I have witnessed: quite why remains slightly mysterious.

Performed by Europa Galante at the Barbican Centre on 20 February as part of their world tour.

You can listen to the performance on YouTube here; there is also an excellent selection of resources on L’oracolo and its reconstruction here.

Click here to read my full review on Bachtrack.

Portrait said to be of Antonio Vivaldi by François Morellon de La Cave, 1723