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Donald Macleod sees trouble brewing when a second opera company sets up in direct competition to Handel's which ultimately leads to the demise of his operatic career.

Handel found himself in competition with a rival company which set about systematically poaching all but one of Handel's leading singers. The two companies competed for audiences over the next four seasons before both eventually failed. Donald Macleod introduces Handel's last great operatic triumph, one of the organ concertos which he began to introduce into the intervals of his new oratorios and part of his dramatic setting of an ode by the hugely popular author John Dryden.

Alcina (excerpts)
Renée Fleming, soprano (Alcina)
Timothy Robinson, tenor (Oronte)
Les Arts Florissants
Conductor William Christie

Organ Concerto in F, Op 4 No 5
Matthew Halls (organ)
Sonnerie
Director Monica Huggett

Alexander's Feast (excerpt)
Sophie Bevan (soprano)
Ed Lyon (tenor)
Ludus Baroque
Conductor Richard Neville-Towle.

1 hour

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina - Sinfonia/Musette/Menuet

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • Erato: 6573 80233-2.
    • Erato.
    • 1.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Alcina, Act 2 Sc 8

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Singer: Timothy Robinson. Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • Erato: 6573 80233-2.
    • Erato.
    • 15.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Organ Concerto in F major, Op.4`5

    Performer: Matthew Halls. Ensemble: Sonnerie. Director: Monica Huggett.
    • Avie AV2055.
    • Avie.
    • 6.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Alexander's Feast - End of Part One

    Singer: Sophie Bevan. Singer: Ed Lyon. Orchestra: Ludus Baroque. Conductor: Richard Neville-Towle.
    • DELPHIAN : DCD-34094.
    • DELPHIAN.
    • 16.

Broadcast

  • Thu 1 Feb 2018 12:00

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