I attended the second of two performances of Antonio Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans on Sunday, January 22 at 3:00 PM at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge. This production with Longy was presented by Eudaimonia (a period band whose objective is to contribute to social and humanitarian work in the community) and in partnership with social action community organizations such as Tomfoolery Music (for musicians in mental health recovery), Muslim Justice League (for protection of rights for threatened groups), Yad Chessed (emergency financial assistance), Family Promise Metrowest (assistance to homeless families), and Samaritans of Boston (working to stop suicide). The cast of current and recent Longy graduate students and the large orchestra comprised of Eudaimonia members and Longy students both told Judith’s inspirational and emotional story with their resonant voices, riveting emotion, and exotic dulcet sounds of the chalumeau, viola de amore, mandolin, viol consort, the theorbos, harpsichord, and historical winds.

Juditha Triumphans is a story that deals with social issues such as tyranny, sexism, and deprivation. The book of Judith in the Apocrypha tells the tale of a female heroine; a Jewish widow by the name of Juditha saves her people from the Assyrian army of Nebuchadnezzar. In order to help her people, Juditha and her hand-maiden Abra go to the camp that belongs to the army general named Holofernes to lobby for peace. The general falls in love with Juditha, gives a feast in her honor, and falls into a drunken sleep afterword. Judith beheads him with his sword, escapes with her maid, tells her people of the victory, and the Jews drive away the Assyrians who are deprived of an oppressive leader.

The depth of dramatic emotion was exquisitely conveyed by the empassioned and refined performances of the cast coupled with the dynamic and ambient orchestra. The beheading scene was particularly gasp-worthy.

Overall, this lovely performance of such a rare and inspiring work was long, yet fantastic and moving. Vivaldi would have been proud to witness such a commendable production, and I feel fortunate to have been in the audience.

1. https://www.google.com/amp/www.classical-scene.com...
2. http://www.bostonbaroque.org/news-posts/vivaldis-j...
3. http://longy.edu/about/events/juditha-triumphans/
4. http://eudaimonia-music.org/index.html