Disguise, desire, and political intrigue drive Vivaldi’s rarely staged Arsilda, regina di Ponto, a fast-moving drama of love and hidden identity. After Prince Tamese is believed lost at sea in a shipwreck, his sister Lisea disguises herself as her brother to secure the kingdom’s future, only to find herself betrothed to his fiancée. Vivaldi’s brilliant score shifts effortlessly between comic sparkle and psychological depth. Opera Neo’s American premiere of Arsilda offers a captivating theatrical ride and a timeless meditation on love, identity, and renewal.

EPSG:4326

Arsilda

First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego - Hillcrest

In celebration of the San Diego Museum of Art’s centennial and Opera Neo’s 15th Anniversary Season, Opera Neo artists present a unique recital. This “exhibition” of art songs is curated to explore and complement some of the works of art in the museum’s galleries, spanning several centuries of art history and bridging multiple continents. The performance at the La Jolla Woman’s Club will be accompanied by immersive projections, and directed by Samantha Fox and Beatrice Huang.

A Night at the Museum: Art Song Recital

La Jolla Woman's Club

Rossini’s Il turco in Italia is a witty, self-aware comedy that playfully blurs the line between life and art. Fueled by curiosity, attraction, and cultural collision, the opera centers on the encounter between Selim, a Turkish traveler, and Fiorilla, a free-spirited Italian woman, whose mutual fascination ignites a whirlwind of romantic confusion and comic chaos. Beneath the laughter, the opera examines cultural and gender divides, and the tension between personal desire and social expectation. Rossini’s music drives the comedy with restless energy and quick turns of perspective, using rapid-fire ensembles and abrupt changes of direction to pull the audience into a world where flirtation becomes strategy, identity is constantly negotiated, and no one is quite as settled as they pretend to be. The music sparkles with rapid-fire ensembles, lyrical elegance, and irresistible comedic timing. As entertaining as it is insightful, Il turco in Italia remains remarkably relevant, offering a witty yet pointed look at relationships, identity, and the ever-lasting challenge of being true to oneself.

Brenna McFarland

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 18, 2026

A Night at the Museum: Art Song Recital · Opera Neo

24 - 25 Jul, 2026

Il turco in Italia · Opera Neo

Past events

15 - 16 May, 2026

Arsilda · Opera Neo

Future and recently performed repertoire

Fiorilla (cover) Ensemble in Il turco in Italia by Rossini

Opera Neo

Mirinda (cover) Ensemble in Arsilda, regina di Ponto by Vivaldi

Opera Neo

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