With this work, we conclude our exploration of Dante’s Purgatorio, the middle cantica of his Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy is a poem in which the author, Durante Alighieri (Dante), recounts a vision in which he journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Our trilogy explores Purgatory through three operas, performed by the same ensemble in different constellations and with different instruments.
In the first two parts, Dante was present on stage either as a character or as an author. In The Garden of Eden, he disappears completely. Instead, seven musicians (violin, viola, two cellos, synthesizer, electric guitar and electric ukulele) take centre stage, presenting and discussing Dante’s Garden of Eden and revealing their most human traits – pettiness, enthusiasm, personal interests and idiosyncrasies.
Between them and the audience, several VR headsets will offer an immersive experience of the Garden of Eden. These wireless headsets can be passed around among the spectators. The VR imagery will have a stern and calm tone, providing a strong counterpoint to the agitated and humanly messy discussion on stage.
Musically, a soprano voice will attempt to introduce the discussion, but the other singers will repeatedly interrupt her, steering the conversation toward their own interests. As in the previous two parts, the production blends literary sophistication with humor. Matteo Fargion’s witty and unpredictable musical style ensures that the audience is constantly surprised and engaged in a playful state of confusion.