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Teatro dell'Opera di Roma


III (Poltrone di Platea), € 200
V (Palchi Laterali plt 1 Ord avanti), € 175



Alcina, Opera by G. F. Handel

Alcina, Opera by G. F. Handel

George Friedrich Handel's magical opera, Alcina, is staged at the magnificent Teatro Costanzi in Rome. This baroque opera was written by the German-born composer after adapting an Italian libretto that is usually attributed to a writer named Antonio Fanzaglia. Whether or not Fanzaglia had a hand in the creation of Alcina, it is known that the text is based on L’isola di Alcina, an opera written by Riccardo Broschi. A London audience was the first to see Handel's version of the epic story when the opera premiered on 16 April 1735 at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden.

Alcina is a three-act opera with a short prologue. It is set on a mysterious island that is owned by the title character, a sorceress with magical powers to manipulate and seduce men. When a passing knight, Ruggiero, is ensnared on the island, his fiancée Bradamante, seeks him out. She arrives on the island but decides to disguise herself as a man to help her deceive the enchanting Alcina. What ensues is her attempt to place a magic ring on Ruggiero's finger so that the illusion Alcina has created for him will become apparent. Unfortunately for the young lovers, Alcina's sister, Morgana, mistakes Bradamante for the man she appears to be and, subsequently, falls in love. Soon the plan is discovered and Alcina is put in a position she has never faced before with a dilemma she seemingly never thought she would face.

Handel wanted Alcina to be a complete theatrical experience, so he chose to include several dance numbers among the various arias and duets. The baroque-era orchestration gives the entire opera a distinctive sound, too, especially in the narrative sections of the work which make use of recitative vocals. The arias tend to be deployed so that the characters can express their emotions at particular points in the story and don't necessarily drive the action on. In some cases, Handel encourages so-called 'da capo' singing which allows the performers to take their vocals to new levels with semi-improvised sections towards their ends. Of particular note is one of Ruggiero's arias, 'Verdi prati' which is widely considered to be among Handel's best.

With exciting plot twists, a terrifying but very human central character and superbly orchestrated music, this production of Alcina at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro Costanzi's other name, will be a treat for all who attend.




image Rome Opera House / Silvia Lelli / Teatro dell'Opera di Roma