27.2.2009
I was at the opera last night: The Handel Festival is one of the main
cultural events in Karlsruhe, and there is usually a major opera production.
This time it was Radamisto, in its first (April 1720) version. It seems that
the work has not been performed in this version since the original staging in
London supervised by Handel himself.
The Karlsruhe production is opulent, to put it modestly: there was quite
some pomp in costumes and scenery on the (candle-lit) stage (you can get an
impression from the
photos of the production on the website of the Karlsruhe opera). The
cast was very good in almost all parts; I found especially Delphine Galou
as Zenobia excellent.
Handels music is impressive, particularly in the second act. The opera
consists almost exclusively of arias; the only real ensembles are the final
chorus and a single duet, which is very effectively placed at one of the
most emotional points in the plot, namely, when Radamisto and his wife
Zenobia meet again, after having been separated and believed each other
dead. You can imagine how nice it is to hear some singing in two voices
after a two and a half hour sequence of arias :-)
