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Händel's musical genius and the fantastical story from Orlando furioso, the epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto that inspired the opera, made Alcina one of the most popular operas by the Saxon composer (alongside Ariodante and Orlando, which were also inspired by the same great literary work) performed in Covent Garden in 1735. The story, which has echoes of Homer, features the sorceress Alcina, who draws the protagonists to her island to seduce them and turn them into part of the landscape; it shows Ruggiero and Bradamante's struggle to get rid of the evil witch, and continues to captivate audiences today with subtle metaphors on the illusions created by love and passion. In this adaptation by David Alden, who is making his début at the Royal Theatre, Alcina's magical kingdom is the theatre itself, constructed with references to Hollywood, magazines and musical comedy. The seemingly happy ending when Ruggiero gets married to Bradamante in an entirely conventional way in a suburbs manages to inspire nostalgia for the theatrical world where the sorceress reigned.
Essentials
Opera seria in three acts
Music by Georg Friedrich Händel
Anonymous libretto based on L'isola di Alcina (1728) by Riccardo Broschi, with cantos VI and VII from the epic poem Orlando Furioso (1516) by Ludovico Ariosto
First performed in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London, on 16 April 1735
First performance in Madrid
A new production by the Royal Theatre, co-produced with the Opéra National de Bordeaux
Teatro Real Orchestra
(Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid)
Production Team & Cast
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Musical director:
Christopher Moulds
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Stage director:
David Alden
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Set designer:
Gideon Davey
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Lighting designer:
Simon Mills
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Choreographer:
Beate Vollack
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Alcina:
Karina Gauvin
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Sofia Soloviy (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
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Morgana:
Anna Christy
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
María José Moreno (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
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Ruggiero:
Christine Rice
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 4, 6, 8, 10)
Josè Maria Lo Monaco (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 2, 3)
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Bradamante:
Sonia Prina
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Angélique Noldus (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
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Melisso:
Luca Tittoto
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Johannes Weisser (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
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Oronte:
Allan Clayton
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Anthony Gregory (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
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Oberto:
Erika Escribà
(Oct. 27, 31 · Nov. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli (Oct. 30 · Nov. 1, 3)
Performance Dates
-
27 OCT (T) 20:00h
FINISHED -
30 OCT (F) 20:00h
FINISHED -
31 OCT (S) 20:00h
FINISHED -
1 NOV (S) 18:00h
FINISHED -
2 NOV (M) 20:00h
FINISHED -
3 NOV (T) 20:00h
FINISHED -
4 NOV (W) 20:00h
FINISHED -
6 NOV (F) 20:00h
FINISHED -
8 NOV (S) 18:00h
FINISHED -
10 NOV (T) 20:00h
FINISHED
- Place: Main Auditorium
Photo gallery
Approximate running time
Act I: 60 minutesPause 20 minutes
Act II: 70 minutes
Pause 20 minutes
Act III: 50 minutes
Programme of show
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