Acis and Galatea by Händel, Noiztik (2023/2023), Zuzendaria Natalia Kozłowska, Zuzendaria Krzysztof Garstka, Muzeum Łazienki Królewskie, Warsaw, Poland

Stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses became the inspiration for many Baroque works. That is hardly surprising, since the ancient Roman poem abounds in delightful stories full of symbolism, and the title motif of transformation gives the creators room for various interpretations. A perfect example is the mythical love story of the shepherd Acis and the nymph Galatea, which, reforged by John Gay (probably with the help of other poets) into an excellent libretto, became the basis for George Frideric Handel’s one-act opera. A new stage interpretation of this work glistening with baroque chiaroscuro was undertaken by Natalia Kozłowska. The plot of the opera is seemingly simple. The young love each other, but their happiness is interrupted by the cruel attack of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Rejected by the nymph, the giant takes Acis’s life. However, Galatea transforms her lover into a stream with her magical powers, making him immortal. How beautifully does Handel’s music reflect the feelings tormenting the characters! On the one hand, we hear resounding love, happiness, and fulfillment, on the other – the thunders of disappointment and rage. The lively and joyful arias of the lovers crowned by the duet Happy we! contrast with the ominous chorus Wreched lovers, abounding in musical symbols – from galloping imitations to chords interrupted by rests. In the end, the enchanting sound of Galatea’s final aria, kept in a pastoral mood, brings solace and faith in the invincible power of love.