Handel's Alcina debuted at London's Covent Garden on April 16, 1735, enjoying enormous success. Two years earlier, the composer had had to leave the King's Theater, taken over by a rival company, to move to the new London theater. There he gave life to his last works, including Alcina, born with the intention of excelling over the productions of the rival company and therefore particularly refined and sumptuous in the preparations. At Covent Garden, Handel was also able to have a corps de ballet, which is why he supplemented the score with dance numbers and choral episodes along the lines of French opera. The anonymous libretto of the opera - which focuses on the theme of the enchantment of love - was inspired by canto VII of Orlando furioso and L’isola di Alcina, a work by Riccardo Broschi. The sorceress Alcina, thanks to a spell, keeps the knight Ruggiero tied to her in an enchanted island, but thanks to the intervention of Bradamante Ruggiero she will regain consciousness and abandon the sorceress in her desperation. Among apparitions, magic, disguises and changes of scene on sight obviously the arias of the soloists stand out, the real beating heart of Baroque opera. For the sorceress and her beloved, the composer created some of the most popular arias such as "Ombre pallide", sung by Alcina or "Verdi meadows, selve amene", sung by Ruggiero.

Thanks to Fondazione CR Firenze, the performance of 10/24/2022 is offered to the public with a 50% discount on tickets for each sector

Staging by Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

For the first time in Florence

Thanks for the support the Swiss Friends of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

PRESS RELEASE