Alexander by Händel, sre. 25 sep. 2013, Od (2013/2013), Dirigent George Petrou, Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Austria

Alexander the Great was a popular opera figure in the 17th and 18th centuries, his success as king and general served as a comparison with living rulers, and his love life provided inspiration for amorous episodes. Handel's Alessandro tells how love and politics collide. First, Alexander, the king of Macedonia, is presented as a daring soldier and power-conscious ruler. However, he cannot choose between two women. He loves Roxane and, for reasons of power, pretends to love Lisaura, a Scythian princess. Vocally offered Alessandroa star cast: the castrato Senesino sang the title role, the two most famous singers of the time fought for Alexander's favor as Roxane and Lisaura: Francesca Cuzzoni was already firmly engaged in Handel's first opera academy, she sang Lisaura, and Faustina Bordoni gave her as Roxane Debut in London. The great success of Alessandro could not hide the fact that the high fees of the singing troika could not be financed in the long term and Handel's first opera academy was closed two years later, in 1728.