Handel’s 1735 opera, Alcina, tells a fantastic story of sorcery, harrowing adventure, and heartbreak.
The beautiful and treacherous Alcina seduces all of the men who land on her enchanted island. Eventually growing tired of each of her lovers, she transforms them into animals, plants, or stones. When the dashing knight, Ruggiero, falls under Alcina’s spell, his fiancée, Bradamante, seeks to rescue him. Bradamante is disguised as her brother, Ricciardo. Her plan is jeopardized when Alcina’s sister, Morgana, deceived by the disguise, abandons her previous lover, Oronte, to pursue ‘Ricciardo.’ With the help of a magic ring, Bradamante and her guardian Melisso manage to break the spell and free Ruggiero.
Alcina’s lamenting aria, Ah, mio cor!, occurs in the opera’s second act. Having learned of Ruggiero’s escape, Alcina realizes that she genuinely loves him. She cries out in anguish to the gods.
Handel’s opera was based on Ludovico Ariosto’s Italian epic poem, Orlando furioso, first published in 1516. (Two of the composer’s previous operas, Orlando and Ariodante were inspired by the same source).
At a Vienna performance in May of 2021, the addition of puppetry brought a new dimension to the drama. Credits for the spellbinding production include Manuela Linshalm (puppeteer), Nikolaus Habjan (Staging and puppet making), and Denise Heschl (costumes). Here, the German soprano, Julia Kirchner, performs Ah, mio cor!:
Featured Image: Julia Kirchner performing Handel’s “Alcina”
Breathtaking, marvellous!
Fascinating. So many questions about this interpretation. Is it available on DVD? I need to study it because l do not understand the use of puppets, and what the director is trying to say with them.