Organization

Singer

Soprano

Lenneke Ruiten

Alcina

Marie Lys

Morgana

Countertenor

Franco Fagioli

Ruggiero

Contralto

Marina Viotti

Bradamante

Tenor

Juan Sancho

Oronte

Bass

Guilhem Worms

Melissio

Stage director

Stefano Poda

Conductor

Diego Fasolis

Lighting designer

Costume designer

Set designer

Choreographer

Chorus master

Ludmila Schwartzwalder

Oberto

Assistant

Paolo Giani Cei

Opéra de Lausanne

Others

Chœur de l'Opéra de Lausanne

Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne

Lausanne

Switzerland

Handel: Alcina
Diego Fasolis - Lausanne Opera
The magician Alcina attracts men to her island with her spellbinding song. She seduces them, but once tired, she transforms them into rocks, plants or wild beasts. Ruggiero is the object of his pleasure at the moment. The latter's fiancée, Bradamante, set out to find him... This masterpiece of Baroque opera was created in 1735.

The magician Alcina has made her island a real paradise. She never ceases to attract men to her palace to make them her lovers. When she gets tired, she transforms them into wild beasts, plants and even rocks. Ruggiero is currently sharing his diaper. The sorceress does not know that he is engaged, and he himself, fallen under Alcina's spell, has forgotten it. Bradamante, his beloved, lands on the island to find him. Disguised as a man, she is accompanied by her mentor Melisso. The first creature they meet immediately falls in love with the young "knight". This is Morgane, Alcina's sister. The arrival of this rival stirs up the jealousy of Orontes, Morgana's lover...

Orlando furioso, Ariosto's epic poem published in 1516 is a milestone of the Italian Renaissance that has inspired countless artists, painters, sculptors and musicians. Charlemagne's fight against the Saracens forms the framework of this epic. Among the many secondary scenes is the island of Alcina where knights of the Emperor's army mysteriously disappear. The faithful and valiant Bradamante will manage to save Ruggiero and break the spell, thus bringing the other victims back to life.

Handel had used a text inspired by an interpretation of Ariosto's version. And he had bought in Italy the libretto of an opera by Riccardo Broschi, L'Isola di Alcina .

Georg Friedrich Handel, originally from Halle in Germany and contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach, had spent several years in Italy before becoming the official composer of the English royal family. The Prince-Elector of Hanover and future King of England brought him to his court in Germany in 1710 as Kapellmeister, then took him with him to England. Under the reign of George I and his successor George II, Handel's career reached unexpected heights. But when he premiered his “magical” opera Alcina, he was no longer at the height of his glory. The Royal Academy, its main patron, was dissolved in 1733. In addition, the London public now preferred works in the English language to Italian operas. With Alcina, Handel nevertheless manages to conquer the public once again. The first performance was given in 1735 at the Theater Royal in Covent Garden, inaugurated shortly before.

Opera recorded on March 6, 2022 at the Opéra de Lausanne.

Alcina Händel

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