Giustino
Cast sheet
Friday 10 October 2025
|
6.45pm
A co-production with La Nuova Musica
Approximate timings
Music
George Frideric Handel
Libretto
after Nicolò Beregan
Pietro Pariati
Performing Edition by
Peter Jones
Director
Joe Hill-Gibbins
Designer
Rosanna Vize
Associate Director
Jenny Ogilvie
Lighting Designer
James Farncombe
Fight Director
Philip d'Orléans
Giustino
Polly Leech
Anastasio
Keri Fuge
Arianna/La Fortuna
Mireille Asselin
Leocasta
Esme Bronwen-Smith
Amanzio
Jake Arditti
Vitaliano
Benjamin Hulett
Polidarte
Jonathan Lemalu
Conductor
David Bates
Orchestra
La Nuova Musica
Chorus
Kristina Ammattil, Anais Manz, Eva Stone-Barney, Louisa Stuart-Smith, William Prasetyo, Max Robbins, Matias Carbonetti Schwanek, Jan-Magnar Gard
Violin 1
Jane Gordon, James Toll, Kirra Thomas, Simone Pirri, Anna Curzon
Violin 2
Davina Clarke, Sijie Chen, Will Mcgahon, George Clifford
Viola
Jordan Potter, Thomas Kettle
Cello
Alexander Rolton, Kinga Gáborjáni
Double Bass
Judith Evans
Oboe/Recorder
Leo Duarte, Sarah Humphrys
Bassoon
Inga Maria Klaucke
On-stage Horn
Ursula Paludan Monberg, Joseph Walters
On-stage Trumpet
Paul Sharp, Matthew Wells
Theorbo
Jonatan Bougt
Harpsichord
David Gerrard
Senior Producer
Rachel Caccia
Producer
Grace Cook
Assistant Producer
Darragh Kelly
Linbury Technical Manager
Thomas Thompson
Linbury Assistant Technical Manager
Nick Manning
Senior Stage Technician
Charlie Earl
Stage Technician
Daryl Anderson
Senior Lighting Technician
Sophie Bailey
Lighting Technician
Matt Iles
Senior Sound and Video Technician
Andre Birck
Sound and Video Technician
Sharon Tsang
Armoury Manager
Max Brown
Linbury Costume Manager
Alice Lessing
Draughting and Design Studio Manager
Claire Meakin
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
David Bates
CEO
John Summers OBE
PRODUCER
Megan Russell
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
Cathy Wearing
Synopsis
At court, the widowed Empress Arianna, crowns her new husband, Anastasio. The celebrations are cut short when Polid...
At court, the widowed Empress Arianna, crowns her new husband, Anastasio. The celebrations are cut short when Polidarte delivers a message from his general, the rebel leader Vitaliano. Vitaliano offers to cease his attack on the empire if Arianna surrenders to his bed. She refuses and Anastasio departs to fight Vitaliano. Unbeknownst to her husband, Arianna follows.
Giustino, a young boy, is visited in a dream by the Goddess Fortuna, who declares that a great destiny awaits him. He wakes and immediately rescues a woman, Leocasta, from a bear. Leocasta is attracted to Giustino and sees great potential in him as a future leader. Meanwhile Amanzio, Anastasio’s political advisor, secretly plots to seize power through deception.
Arianna is captured by Polidarte and brought to Vitaliano. When she refuses to yield to Vitaliano, he decides to feed her to a sea monster. Anastasio has heard of Giustino’s brave exploits and sends him to rescue Arianna. Giustino kills the sea monster and captures Vitaliano. Amanzio grows jealous of Giustino’s favour with the Emperor. Anastasio and Arianna are reunited.
Imprisoned, Giustino curses the Goddess Fortuna, and falls asleep from exhaustion. Vitaliano escapes his bonds and is about to kill Giustino when he hears the voice of his dead father warning him that he is about to murder his own brother. Vitaliano is stunned to discover the family mark on Giustino’s arm, and the brothers are reconciled.
Amanzio has usurped the throne and imprisoned Anastasio. Giustino returns and defeats Amanzio, ordering his immediate execution. In thanks, Anastasio offers Giustino Leocasta’s hand in marriage, and makes him co-regent.
Further information
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