Event detail

Alcina

The powerful sorceress Alcina has created a magnificent palace in beautiful countryside upon an island, where she lures lovers into her web of power. One of them is the Christian knight Ruggiero, who succumbs to her spells and forgets about his fiancée Bradamante. However, she does not want to give him up and sets out in disguise to save him. The magical theme of the work, which is originally based on a part of Ariosto´s poem Orlando Furioso, was a good fit for Covent Garden’s capabilities. It will be the first time that Händel´s Alcina is performed on the Brno stage.

opera

janáčektheater

premiere

mysticism

baroco

introduction

forallfamily

appropriateforthekids

specialguest

brnotheatre

Description

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The powerful sorceress Alcina has created a magnificent palace in beautiful countryside upon an island, where she lures lovers into her web of power. One of them is the Christian knight Ruggiero, who succumbs to her spells and forgets about his fiancée Bradamante. However, she does not want to give him up and sets out in disguise to save him. The most charming aspect of Händel´s work is the music, and Alcina contains some of the most beautiful pieces that have ever been written for the human voice. Only a few authors have ever managed to use such exceptional melodic invention in their works, to express such dramatic feeling and, above all, such a deep understanding of that which is hidden in the depths of the human soul.

After his successful staging of Purcell´s Dido and Aeneas, Václav Luks will be returning to the Brno Opera, this time with the entire Collegium 1704 orchestra, which today is one of the best ensembles specialising in the historically informed interpretation of musical works. Spectators can look forward not only to great singing performances, but also to music performed with Baroque instruments. Alongside Collegium 1704, French theatres in Caen and Versailles are also partners in the production. Händel wrote his 34th opera in the spring of 1735 for the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, which boasted expensive stage equipment that made it possible to achieve spectacular theatrical effects. The magical theme of the work, which is originally based on a part of Ariosto´s poem Orlando Furioso, was a good fit for Covent Garden’s capabilities. It will be the first time that Händel´s Alcina is performed on the Brno stage.