The opera Erismena, in its original Italian version, was first performed in Venice in 1655 by Francesco Cavalli, making it one of the earliest operas of the Baroque era. Notably, it is likely the first opera ever translated into English and perhaps even performed in England. Its handwritten score, complete with an English libretto, was rediscovered in 2008 in a private library, enhanced by a unique prologue.
La Cité Bleue and the Haute École de Musique (HEM) organized an intensive months-long workshop, a significant investment in the professional training of students from the Early Music Department. This initiative prepared singers and musicians in historical performance practices and led to the first European staging of Cavalli’s Erismena.
