Rinaldo

Rinaldo Georg Friedrich Haendel Renowned for its formidable vocal demands, Rinaldo was arguably Handel's greatest success during his lifetime.

Cast Philippe Jaroussky | direction Valentina Carrasco | staging Valentina Carrasco, Elena Zamparutti | set design Silvia Aymonino | costumes Elfried Roller | lighting Carlo Vistoli | Rinaldo Regula Mühlemann | Almirena Karine Deshayes | Armida Christophe Dumaux | Goffredo Nahuel Di Pierro | Argante Paul Figuier | Eustazio Elsa Roux Chamoux* | Donna Dominique Visse | A magus *Young talents of the Académie Jaroussky Ensemble Artaserse In brief The composer's first opera, conceived on his arrival in England, and a work renowned for its formidable vocal demands, Rinaldo was arguably Handel's greatest success during his lifetime.

Based on a libretto recounting the story of Renaud and the sorceress Armide, it enjoyed an unprecedented enthusiasm from its very first performance. Written in fourteen days, Handel reused, as was customary at the time, arias from earlier works.

Thus, his most famous aria from Act II, “Lascia ch'io pianga”, is largely inspired by the aria “Lascia la spina”, which he had composed four years earlier for Il Trionfo del tempo.

For this new production, Philippe Jaroussky returns to the pit of the avenue Montaigne and gives us his second Handel after the magnificent Giulio Cesare three years ago. Around him, a team of performers as companionable as they are versed in this repertoire.

The staging is entrusted to the Argentine Valentina Carrasco, who juggles with finesse and inventiveness across various repertoires since her beginnings within the collective of La Fura dels Baus, moving joyfully from bel canto to John Adams.

This new production of Rinaldo will mark its first foray into the Baroque world, and there is no doubt that it should embrace this story of an enamoured sorceress with delight and brilliance.