Handel: Lotario

Featuring

Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli
Carlo Vistoli
Anna Bonitatibus
Krystian Adam
Rafał Tomkiewicz
Ki-Hyun Park

Attilio Cremonesi
Händelfestspielorchester Halle
George Frideric Handel

Did you know?

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Critical Reception

Despite its quality, "Lotario" is one of Handel's least-known operas, having fallen into "a deep slumber for the next 250 years" after its initial run.

Compositional Technique

The libretto for "Lotario" was significantly adapted by Giacomo Rossi, with cuts, new recitatives, and nearly half the arias and ensembles rewritten to make the action more dynamic.

Composition History

Handel's opera "Lotario" premiered on December 2, 1729, at the King's Theatre in London, three weeks after its completion.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Handel's "Lotario" features melodically rich, emotionally charged arias and magnificent coloratura alternating with intimate moments, showcasing his talent for dramatic writing.

Composition History

Handel adapted the libretto for "Lotario" from Antonio Salvi's 1722 work "Adelaide," which he likely encountered in Giuseppe Maria Orlandini's setting during a trip to Italy.

Critical Reception

At its premiere, "Lotario" was deemed "too good for the vile taste of the town" by painter Mary Pendarves, who noted that Londoners preferred "minuets and ballads" over carefully considered works.

Compositional Technique

Handel changed the hero's name from Ottone to Lotario in this opera to avoid confusion with his earlier work, "Ottone" (HWV 15), which was about Emperor Otto II.