Händels Agrippina met Magdalena Kožená & Julia Lezhneva

First major triumph

'To rule, deceit is legitimate.' That is the lesson conveyed by librettist Vincenzo Grimani and composer Georg Friedrich Handel in their opera Agrippina . The work, which premiered in 1709 in Grimani's own theater in Venice, became Handel's first major triumph. Although the young composer borrowed music from contemporaries and from himself, with Agrippina he created a captivating opera with fascinating recitatives and beautiful arias. Handel had previously had the opportunity to listen in Naples and Rome.

Star soloists

The title role of Agrippina, mother of the future Emperor Nero, is portrayed here by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená. Her female counterpart, Poppea, is played by Matinee star soprano Julia Lezhneva. Countertenor Carlo Vistoli also returns to Amsterdam. Conductor and violinist Thibault Noally leads his baroque orchestra Les Accents through this sparkling score.