Join us in New York City on Valentine’s weekend for a cheeky alternative to the romance story: Alessandro Scarlatti’s Il martirio di Santa Teodosia tells the story of a fearless saint who spurns suitors, turns down marriage, and embraces martyrdom instead of a wedding veil. With dazzling baroque arias, dramatic duets, and a chorus that will have you cheering the ultimate “single‑and‑strong” heroine, the performance flips the usual love‑song script on its head. Whether you’re coupled up or proudly flying solo, come enjoy a night where being true to oneself is the first step to the ultimate relationship.

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Commemorating the life and music of Alessandro Scarlatti
October 22, 2025 marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Alessandro Scarlatti, one of the preeminent oratorio composers of the Baroque era. The Academy of Sacred Drama’s 2025–2026 season honors the composer with performances of two of his finest oratorios: La Giuditta “di Cambridge” from 1697 and Il martirio di Santa Teodosia (1685). The instrumental music of Scarlatti also set the mood for a collaborative concert between the Academy and New York City Master Chorale in October 2025. Many of the Academy instrumentalists were proud to participate in a performance of The Choir of St. Luke in the Fields featuring a Scarlatti Mass written for Christmas Eve. And ARTEK Early Music participated in the Scarlatti Festival by celebrating the works of Alessandro Scarlatti and Orlando Gibbons in a series at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in New York City.

​Lucia Musso has graciously sponsored Adam Cockerham as the Director of Creation for the Scarlatti Festival. And we are also thankful for BY Wound Care Internal Medicine and Byoung Yang, MD for being our season sponsor!

​Cast and Directors
​Raha Mirzadegan as Teodosia (soprano)
Matthew Newhouse as Arsenio (tenor, son of Urbano)
Paul Max Tipton as Urbano (bass, the Roman governor)
Andrew Leslie Cooper as Decio (contralto, Arsenio’s confidant)

​Jeremy Rhizor, music director
Tony Lopresti, movement director