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Handel Opera Cycle

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Music: Classical

Music: Classical: Opera

Radio 3 marks the 250th anniversary of Handel's death with a complete cycle of his operas

In 2009, Radio 3 marks the 250th anniversary of the death of George Frideric Handel with a complete cycle of his operas, all broadcast in the order they were first performed

Handel Opera Cycle: Alessandro

Handel Opera Cycle: Alessandro: Episode 1: Alessandro - Acts 1 and 2

Episode 1

Episode 1: Alessandro - Acts 1 and 2

Alessandro

Alessandro - Acts 1 and 2

BBC Radio 3 - Handel Opera Cycle, Alessandro, Alessandro - Acts 1 and 2

Acts 1 and 2 of Handel's opera Alessandro.

Acts 1 and 2 of Handel's story of the love triangle between Alexander the Great and two captive princesses in India. With Handel expert Suzana Ograjensek on the genesis of the work.

Radio 3's complete cycle of Handel's operas continues with Acts 1 and 2 of his tale of Alexander the Great's advance into India. After he capture one of its cities, the Macedonian king  becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle with two captive princesses. The composer used the rivalry between his original leading women - sopranos Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni - in his adaptation of the original material for the opera, giving them equal billing.

Handel expert Suzana Ograjensek - herself a soprano specialising in the Baroque repertory - explains the genesis of this work.

Handel: Alessandro (Acts 1 and 2)

Alessandro (the Great) ...... Rene Jacobs (countertenor)
Rossane, captive princess ...... Sophie Boulin (soprano)
Lisaura, captive princess too ...... Isabelle Poulenard (soprano)
Tassile, Indian King ...... Jean Nirouet (countertenor)
Clito, Alexander's sidekick ...... Stephen Varcoe (baritone)
Leonato, ditto ...... Guy de Mey (tenor)
Cleone, ditto ...... Ria Bollen (mezzo-soprano)
La Petite Bande
Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor).

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Handel's opera which tells the tale of Alexander the Great's advance into India

Radio 3's cycle of Handel's operas continues with his tale of Alexander the Great's advance into India. After he capture one of its cities, the Macedonian king becomes embroiled in a love triangle

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Handel Opera Cycle

Alessandro

Episode 1: Alessandro - Acts 1 and 2

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