Opera on 3

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Music: Classical: Opera

Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances

Programme presenting rare and fascinating performances and vividly communicating the immediacy of the live experience

Opera on 3: Handel's Rodelinda

Handel's Rodelinda

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Handel's Rodelinda

From the Metropolitan Opera in New York: Handel's Rodelinda, conducted by Harry Bicket.

From the Metropolitan Opera in New York: Elza van den Heever stars as Rodelinda in Handel's opera of love and deception between political friends and enemies. Harry Bicket conducts.

One of Handel’s most successful operas when first performed in 1725, and one of his most highly regarded in recent times, Rodelinda is an involving, taut, and remarkably modern drama. Much of its power lies in the appeal of its protagonist, a realistic portrait of a woman rather than an allegorical type, and every character is driven by dramatically credible motivations and the human emotions that accompany them, all masterfully captured in Handel’s music, by turns subtle and bold.

Bertarido has been driven from his kingdom by Grimoaldo and is presumed dead, leaving behind his grieving wife, Rodelinda. Grimoaldo will imprison Rodelinda unless she agrees to marry him, thereby allowing him to seize Bertarido's throne for himself. But then the exiled king returns in disguise.

Soprano Elza van den Heever takes the title role, with countertenor Iestyn Davies as her husband Bertarido whose throne has been seized by Grimoaldo (tenor Paul Appleby), now betrothed to Bertarido's sister Eduige (mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke). Harry Bicket, a champion of the composer’s operas, takes the podium to conduct the Met’s moving production.

Presented by Debra Lew Harder with commentator Ira Siff.

Handel: Rodelinda
Rodelinda ..... Elza van den Heever (soprano)
Bertarido ..... Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Grimoaldo ..... Paul Appleby (tenor)
Eduige ..... Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano)
Unulfo ..... Anthony Roth Costanzo (contertenor)
Garibaldo ..... Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone)
Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House,
Harry Bicket, conductor

Read the full synopsis at the Met Opera website:: https://bit.ly/3J4GX1T

Image: © Ken Howard / Met Opera

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