Liepaja, Latvia – Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann, performing as Regula Mīlemane, delivered a captivating performance at the Liepaja Concert Hall “Great Amber” on January 24th, alongside the internationally acclaimed “La Folia Barockorchester.” The concert, a testament to the enduring appeal of baroque opera, explored nuanced portrayals of the iconic Queen Cleopatra through a selection of arias from their acclaimed 2017 album. Audiences were also treated to a showcase of the venue’s distinctive architecture, inspired by the region’s rich amber heritage [[1]].
On January 24th, Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann, performing as Regula Mīlemane, and the internationally acclaimed baroque orchestra “La Folia Barockorchester” captivated audiences at the Liepaja Concert Hall “Great Amber” with a stunning program of baroque arias centered around Cleopatra. The concert explored various narratives and interpretations of the enigmatic, powerful, and feminine ruler’s life.
“La Folia Barockorchester” and Regula Mīlemane have garnered praise from music critics for their dynamic and compelling collaboration. The Liepaja performance featured arias from their 2017 album, “Cleopatra – Baroque Arias,” which earned Mīlemane the “Opus Klassik” award for “Young Singer of the Year” in 2018. The concert showcased the enduring appeal of baroque opera and its continued relevance for modern audiences.
The evening began with a symphony from Karl Heinrich Graun’s opera “Cleopatra and Caesar” and its aria “Tra le procelle,” portraying Cleopatra’s despair over past losses. Giovanni Legrenzi’s aria from “Antiochus the Great” then offered a different perspective, with Cleopatra asserting her inner strength as the first female regent and championing a woman’s right to determine her own destiny.
Alessandro Scarlatti’s recitative and aria from the cantata “Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra” revealed a more tender side to the queen, depicting the passionate love story between her and Mark Antony. In contrast, an aria from Antonio Vivaldi’s opera “Tigran” showcased Cleopatra as a woman forced into a political marriage, yet fiercely protective of her freedom.
The second half of the program delivered a striking surprise. Mīlemane, embodying regal grandeur, emerged from the audience to perform a recitative and aria from Johann Adolph Hasse’s serenata “Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra,” recounting Cleopatra’s choice of a dignified death over humiliation in defeat.
Throughout the concert, the “La Folia Barockorchester” and its leader, violinist Robin Peter Müller, received enthusiastic applause for their spirited interpretations of Antonio Vivaldi’s violin concerto “La Stravaganza” and Francesco Geminiani’s variations on Alessandro Corelli’s famous melody, “La follia.” The orchestra’s performance underscored the vibrancy and energy of baroque music.
Following this musical journey, a recitative and aria from George Frideric Handel’s heroic opera “Julius Caesar in Egypt” explored Cleopatra’s love for Caesar and her anxieties about his fate. The concert culminated with Hasse’s aria “Morte col fiero aspetto orror,” capturing the full range of the queen’s emotions, ambition, and majesty.
In response to a standing ovation, the musicians offered two encores, featuring a delightful surprise from the orchestra’s harpist, Kateřina Ghannudi, who showcased her beautiful voice in both a solo performance and a duet with Regula Mīlemane.
Swiss soprano Regula Mīlemane is a leading opera and concert artist of her generation, celebrated for her crystalline voice and expressive interpretations. She has performed at prestigious venues including the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, “Teatro alla Scala,” and the Salzburg Festival. For the 2024/2025 season, she is scheduled to perform with the Basel Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony, the Belgian National Orchestra, the “Utopia” orchestra under Theodor Currentzis, and the “Balthasar Neumann” orchestra, debuting in Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” and continuing performances of works by Strauss and Mahler in Europe’s leading halls. Mīlemane is an exclusive artist with “Sony Classical,” and her recordings – including “Cleopatra,” “Mozart II,” and “Fairy Tales” – have received multiple “Opus Klassik” awards.
Since its founding in 2007, “La Folia Barockorchester” has set a new standard for creativity in baroque music, infusing it with a wild and vital energy while maintaining a deep respect for historical authenticity and a desire to connect with contemporary listeners. The orchestra regularly performs in renowned concert halls, including the Berlin and Cologne Philharmonies, Vienna’s “Musikverein,” and at international festivals, collaborating with prominent soloists such as Regula Mīlemane, Anna Prohaska, and Bejun Mehta. Their recordings under the “Deutsche Harmonia Mundi/Sony” label have received critical acclaim, including an “Opus Klassik” award.
The concert “Cleopatra. A Queen in the Light of the Baroque” was organized by SIA “Lielais Dzintars” with the support of the Liepaja City Council and the State Culture Capital Foundation.
