Ensemble Raccanto

Julia Küsswetter (‘Rosmene’, soprano)>
Andreas Pehl (‘Tirinto’, alto)
Tobias Hunger (‘Imeneo’, tenor)
Eric Fergusson (‘Argenio’, bass)
Angelika Fichter (violin one)
Eva Röll (violin two)
Sven Rössel (double bass)
Susanna Mette (viola)
Hannah Freienstein (cello)
Robert Schröter (harpischord)
Axel Wolf (lute),
Cornelia Lanz (stage direction)

IMENEO
George Frideric Händel (1685-1759)
an Operatic Concert

Part I

Interval (20 minutes)

Part II

Handel's last masterpiece, Imeneo, was written at a time when he was increasingly turning from Opera Seria productions in London to oratorio. Imeneo was not a great success when it was first produced in 1742, though it was acknowledged to contain a lot of good music (some of which Handel later ‘recycled’). It is based on a story from 4th Century BC, but elaborated and adapted into an opera plot based on a girl's indecision between two men and choosing between love and duty.

In this version, Rosmene has to decide between Tirinto and Imeneo. She is engaged to Tirinto, with whom she has shared a long lasting relationship. However, Imeneo also wants to marry her. He argues that her father had promised Rosmene’s hand as reward for rescuing Rosmene from kidnapping.

The performers were brought to Dubai courtesy of

The Clavinova is provided courtesy of

Garden Furniture is provided courtesy of