Zurich Opera Revives Leclair's Baroque Opera 'Scylla et Glaucus' in New Festival

The Zurich Opera House presented the Swiss premiere of Jean-Marie Leclair's opera 'Scylla et Glaucus' as part of its new 'Zurich Baroque' festival. The production, directed by Claus Guth, transposes the mythological jealousy drama to a nightmarish boarding school setting, with stage design by Etienne Pluss. The plot, based on Ovid's 'Metamorphoses', revolves around Glaucus, Scylla, and the sorceress Circe in a classic love triangle that ends tragically. Conductor Emmanuelle Haïm led the performance, responsible for preparing the musical score of this rarely performed work. The cast included Elsa Benoit as Scylla, Anthony Gregory as Glaucus, and Chiara Skerath as Circe. The production featured the period instrument ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée as guest orchestra, marking their first appearance in the opera house pit while the house orchestra is on European tour. The festival also included a performance of Bach's 'St. Matthew Passion' by Raphaël Pichon and his ensemble Pygmalion, noted for its intense interpretation. The event highlights renewed interest in Leclair's work, whose violent death in 1764 remains unsolved, and showcases the stylistic diversity of contemporary Baroque performance practice.