CCVIII. HANDEL, George Frideric (1685-1759)
Handel took the fantasy idea from Orlando furioso, an epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto. He used this material in several different operas.
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It's obvious that J.K. Rowling knew her history: we have a hippogriff (who flew the characters to Alcina's island before the opera starts!) and plenty of magic wands!
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There are several excellent productions on YouTube, but I chose this one because it has English subs. And these college kids are amazing! A German-born composer who might as well have been English writes an opera in Italian which is performed by a bunch of Canadian students in Chinese costumes. There you go.
If you can't spare the 2:48:42, there is an excellent exposition of the plot of this opera in this animated video which lasts a mere two minutes -- and it does manage to pretty much sum up the whole thing!
Handel's writing is magnificent. Simple, but floridly decorated; melodies that stay with you long after the performance. For example, this aria designated for Alcina, is somehow sung by Morgana here. No matter, it is an example of an excellent aria, with a high B-Flat held for seven beats (46:34):
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