Great Handel Arias – Florie Valiquette, soprano, and Stéphane Fuget

Georg Friedrich Haendel, born in Halle in 1685, showed exceptional musical talents at an early age. As an organist at the cathedral of his hometown, he moved to Hamburg in 1703, where his first operas Almira and Nero were performed in 1705. In 1706, he journeyed to Italy, where he spent three years composing several lyrical works, including Rodrigo, Agrippina, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo.

Upon settling in London in 1710, Haendel introduced Italian opera to an audience largely unfamiliar with it. 

Rinaldo, the first opera staged at the Queen’s Theatre in Haymarket, and also the first Italian opera written for a London stage, brought him tremendous success. This was followed by a considerable number of works for the Haymarket Theatre (Teseo, Amadigi) and the Royal Academy of Music (Radamisto, Giulio Cesare, Tamerlano, Rodelinda, etc.).

His compositions particularly showcased the leading divas of the time, including castrati and sopranos. This program highlights some of the most beautiful arias from his operas.

Distribution

Les Épopées / Conductor : Stéphane Fuget