Alessandro
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Alessandro

G. F. Handel

Handel composed Alessandro in 1726 for the Royal Academy of Music in London. The libretto by Paolo Rolli was based on La Superbia d’Alessandro by Ortensio Mauro and the plot centres on Alexander the Great and his delusion that he is the son of Jupiter. Meanwhile, two women, Rossane et Lisaura, are competing for his love.

The story of the opera’s genesis is also intriguing: the title role was taken by the castrato Senesino while the two female roles were cast with Francesca Cuzzoni (Lisaura) and Faustina Bordoni (Rossane). When Bordoni first appeared in London, captivating the public and prompting the press to call her ‘the new Cuzzoni’, a famous war broke out between the two prima donnas and between their entourages. It reached a climax with Bononcini’s opera Astianate, which saw Cuzzoni and Bordoni attacking each other physically.

Photos

Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Kaufhold
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Yuka Nakamura
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Yuka Nakamura
Alessandro in Wiesbaden, © Yuka Nakamura
AustriaCard / Lykos, supporter of the tour
E.U. NATIONAL STRATEGIC REFERENCE FRAMEWORK
Armonia Atenea, producer
The Onassis Foundation, grand sponsor of the orchestra
The Friends of Music Foundation of Athens, sponsor of the CD production
coverimage,
© Beetroot
Tourposter Athens, by Paris Mexis / Beetroot
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens (1/4)
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens (2/4)
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens (3/4)
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens (4/4)
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (1/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (3/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (2/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (4/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (5/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (6/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (7/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (8/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (9/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (10/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (11/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (12/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (15/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (14/15), © Pappas
foto from the Alessandro rehearsals in Athens, 2013_05_14 (13/15), © Pappas
Fra le stragi e fra le morti

Alessandro

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Alessandro

La cervetta nei lacci

Alessandro

Pregi son d'un alma grande l'amicizia

Alessandro

Vibra, cortese Amor, un altro strale

Alessandro

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Recordings

21 09 2012 Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
Alessandro
G. F. Händel

Cast

Alessandro: Max Emanuel Cencic *
Rosanne: Blandine Staskiewicz | Julia Lezhneva *
Lisaura: Karina Gauvin * | Dilyara Idrisova
Tassile: Xavier Sabata * | Nicholas Tamagna
Clito: Pavel Kudinov | In-sung Sim *
Leonato: Juan Sancho * | Sebastian Monti
Cleone: Vasily Khoroshev *

Musical director: George Petrou *
Orchestra: Armonia Atenea *

Stage director: Lucinda Childs
Set & costumes: Paris Mexis

* CD recording