Three unusual ladies will reign over the concert African Queens: Cleopatra, Dido and Anna Prohaska.   The ruler of Egypt, nowadays associated with resplendent beauty and bathing in goats’ milk, was actually one of the greatest strategists and diplomats of her time. Dido, thanks to her courage and cleverness, founded Carthage and was its first ruler. Anna Prohaska continues to conquer audiences all over the world. 
Anna Prohaska comes from an excellent music dynasty. Her great grandfather Carl was a famous composer, grandfather Felix an appreciated conductor, her mother and brother are singers, and her father is an opera director. Anna’s warm, strong and commanding voice is a real jewel.  She sings the most difficult parts effortlessly, with confidence and strength in the highest registers. She appears at the Berliner Philharmonie, Deutsche Staatsoper, during the Salzburger Festspiele, and enjoys an exclusive contract with the Deutsche Grammophon. 
Whoever associates Cleopatra with the beautiful Liz Taylor, shall be convinced that the famous Egyptian can also have the face, and above all the voice of Anna Prohaska. ‘She was beautiful and radiated the charm of youth,’ wrote a contemporary chronicler. ‘She had a beguiling voice, and was a delight to look at her and listen to her speech. No wonder she conquered everyone so easily.’ No wonder either that for centuries Cleopatra ignited the imagination of various artists. Her romances with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony were described by Antonio Sartorio and Daniele da Castrovillari in their operas to be rediscovered and produced for the first time ever since the 17th c only recently. Although Handel’s most popular opera is Giulio Cesare in Egitto, it is Cleopatra who is the protagonist. The sensuous music depicts the Roman commander, who cannot resist the sex appeal of the Egyptian beauty. Cleopatra employs her charms in her political intrigues. 
Of the operas describing the love of Dido and Aeneas who leaves his beloved as gods have tasked him with the establishment of Rome, Henry’s Purcell work is the best known work on this subject, especially for its final aria-lamentation, used so many times in films, TV series and commercials. Unlike other composers, Francesco Cavalli does not let the queen of Carthage die; on the contrary, he throws her in the arms of an admirer other than the unfaithful Aeneas. 
The Baroque operas, Anna Prohaska and  Il Giardino Armonico invite you to a musical feast worthy of ancient monarchs. Let’s celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wratislavia Cantans in a truly royal way.