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Opera of the Nobility - 18th Century Disruptors

Hannah French explores the war of two 18C London opera companies - the Royal Academy and the Opera of the Nobility. Four seasons of one-upmanship led to them both going bankrupt!

Hannah French delves into the battle between the two opera companies in London in the 1730s - King George II's Royal Academy of Music with its musical director Handel - and the Prince of Wales' Opera of the Nobility under the guidance of Nicola Porpora. After four seasons of in-fighting and warring between the two factions, expensive set and costume designs and overpaid starry performers, both companies went bankrupt in 1737.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Feb 2018 14:00

Music Played

  • Nicola Porpora

    Mira in cielo (Arianna e Teseo)

    Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Director: Andrea Marcon.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Al lampo dell'armi (Giulio Cesare)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina. Director: Ottavio Dantone.
  • Trad.

    Cold and raw (The Beggar's Opera)

    Ensemble: The Broadside Band. Director: Jeremy Barlow.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Germanico in Germania (I. Sinfonia)

    Ensemble: Capella Cracoviensis. Director: Jan Tomasz Adamus.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Arianna in Nasso (I. Overture)

    Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco. Director: Alan Curtis.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Va'per la vene il sangue (Il trionfo di Camilla)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina. Director: Ottavio Dantone.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Vorrei poterti amar (Orlando)

    Singer: Catherine Robbin. Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Director: Christopher Hogwood.
  • Francesco Maria Veracini

    Se mai piagato (Adriano in Siria)

    Singer: Ugo Guagliardo. Ensemble: Europa Galante. Director: Fabio Biondi.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Alto giove (Polifemo)

    Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Director: Andrea Marcon.
  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Va' tra le selve ircane (Artaserse)

    Singer: Maria Grazia Schiavo. Ensemble: Ensemble Barocco dell'Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia. Director: Corrado Rovaris.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Vaghi amori (La festa d'Imeneo)

    Singer: Julie Boulianne. Ensemble: Clavecin en concert. Director: Luc Beaus茅jour.
  • Nicola Porpora

    Sento pietade (Oh se fosse il mio core)

    Singer: Iestyn Davies. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 Feb 2018 14:00

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