Seductive Sorcery amongst Handel’s Rampant Royals

Musicians Christina Raphaelle Haldane (soprano) Carl Philippe Gionet (harpsichord) Description The royal courts of Handel’s heroines were places of indulgence and intrigue: seduction and sorcery. The queens and princesses portrayed in his operas were women of power, who possessed and played with the supernatural in order to achieve what they wanted. The mystical queen Alcina, princess Deidamia of Scyros, and Cleopatra queen of Egypt all addressed the Gods in their quests for power, love and happiness. The arias are powerful, and many test the musical boundaries of the time in order to fully portray the drama. For example Alcina's command to the spirits in Ombre pallide contrasts the playful Cleopatra, as she charmingly calls on her gods to aid in her seduction of Cesare in the lesser performed Tu la mia stella sei and Venere bella. Handel’s last opera Deidamia is opera seria with a sprinkling of ‘buffa’ with the original title being ‘Achilles Among the Girls’. Princess Diademia muses that Achilles will reveal his identity by constantly returning to his love in Nasconde L’usignol; being the young warrior that he is, he simply cannot stop himself. When Achilles is discovered Deidamia curses the Greeks who lead him, commanding the waves to destroy their ships in M’hai resa infelice. Programme Handel Tu la mia stella sei from Guilio Cesare Venere bella from Guilio Cesare Nasconde L’usignol from Deidamia M’hai resa infelice from Deidamia Di cor mio from Alcina Ombre pallide form Alcina

Suitable for
Any age


Website
http://www.handelhouse.org/whats-on/concerts-and-events/seductive-sorcery

Admission
£9 Adults £5 Students

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk//se000508?id=EVENT486314