I thought someone would eventually become intrigued by this
Tim Albery is producing CROESUS, and he's a producer whose work I rate phenomenally highly - I would imagine this show will be well worth catching! Keiser's work greatly influenced Handel, and he led the genre away from its obsessions with gods and unearthly portents, into a more realistic world of power, greed, love and envy... all the ingredients for a top libretto
I have never heard Mr Maniaci, but I did hear a male "sopranist" two years ago... there is a guy who does this in the unlikely location of Vladimir, a medieval city 4 hours drive from Moscow. I was sceptical initially, I have to say, but the musicality of the final result was beyond all question (they did the Mozart "Solemn Vespers") and I was quite convinced by the end.
On the basis that we can't (for the best reasons!) have castrati in these roles, I personally remain very flexible on the matter - I am just as happy to have a (female) soprano or mezzo singing them, if it guarantees reliable vocal results?
