Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo at Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on Thursday 22nd September 2022

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo

Add to my Calendar 22-09-2022 19:30 22-09-2022 21:30 36 Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo George Frederic Handel’s “little opera” Acis and Galatea is a well-known and much-loved part of his prolific output, and a cornerstone of the early English opera tradition. But Handel had already put his pen to this timeless pastoral myth ten years previously, in his cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, composed in Naples in 1708.  This dramatic work finds Handel at his most brilliantly Italianate, and, despite its shared origins, has little in common with its English counterpart. Characterised by soaring melodies and flamboyant coloratura, it demands exceptional virtuosity on the part of the singers – not least the terrifying Polifemo, whose raging aria “Fra l’ombre e gl’orrori” is one of the most challenging in the bass repertoire. Coupled with its inventive instrumental accompaniment throughout, this is one of Handel’s most surprising and original works. Instruments of Time and Truth are joined for this evening of glorious Handelian radiance by soprano Anna Devin, mezzo-soprano Bethany Horak-Hallett and bass Edward Grint, and conducted by Christopher Bucknall. Instruments of Time and Truth are Oxford’s own period instrument orchestra, presenting world-class performances of Baroque and Classical music in Oxford and around the UK. Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Sheldonian Theatre
Broad Street
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 3AZ
England

Thursday 22nd September 2022
7:30 PM

Programme

George Frideric Handel – Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, HWV 72

Performers

Anna Devin – soprano
Bethany Horak Hallett – mezzo-soprano
Edward Grint – Bass
Christopher Bucknall – director / harpsichord

Instruments of Time and Truth

Programme Note

George Frederic Handel’s “little opera” Acis and Galatea is a well-known and much-loved part of his prolific output, and a cornerstone of the early English opera tradition. But Handel had already put his pen to this timeless pastoral myth ten years previously, in his cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, composed in Naples in 1708.

This dramatic work finds Handel at his most brilliantly Italianate, and, despite its shared origins, has little in common with its English counterpart. Characterised by soaring melodies and flamboyant coloratura, it demands exceptional virtuosity on the part of the singers – not least the terrifying Polifemo, whose raging aria “Fra l’ombre e gl’orrori” is one of the most challenging in the bass repertoire. Coupled with its inventive instrumental accompaniment throughout, this is one of Handel’s most surprising and original works.

Instruments of Time and Truth are joined for this evening of glorious Handelian radiance by soprano Anna Devin, mezzo-soprano Bethany Horak-Hallett and bass Edward Grint, and conducted by Christopher Bucknall.

Instruments of Time and Truth are Oxford’s own period instrument orchestra, presenting world-class performances of Baroque and Classical music in Oxford and around the UK.

An orchestra stand in front of a Georgian concert hall

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