For such an early work, Coronation of Poppea has quite a lot of demanding vocal writing, particularly for the women, with vocal lines that go above the stave, albeit no high Cs. All the soloists were up to the task and sang up a storm.
Kudos to the two leads, soprano Sophie Junker (Poppea) and countertenor Nicolo Balducci (Nero). They had excellent chemistry and the requisite charismatic stage presence. Their love duet was a highlight of the evening.
Perhaps it’s a bit unfair to single out only one or two in the supporting cast for praise, as I can honestly say that there was not a weak link. That said, I was quite struck by Argentine soprano Mariana Flores for her fierce, in-your-face Ottavia.