Alcina is undoubtedly one of Handel’s most absurd operas, but this delicious production, directed by Richard Jones, with a cast led by the magnificent Cuban-American soprano Lisette Oropesa, shows how brilliant it can be.
The story is set on an island belonging to the enchantress Alcina who has the bad habit of seducing every man she encounters and spraying her discarded lovers with a potion that turns them into wild animals. Her latest infatuation is with the knight Ruggiero, whose wife Bradamante has followed him to the island disguised as her brother Riccardo. Relationships become more complicated when Alcina’s sister, falls in love with ‘Riccardo’ and the romantic mayhem continues. See? I told you it was absurd, but the lunacy of the plot gave Handel the excuse for much brilliant music, adorned by his characteristically impressive and challengingly fast tonsil-tangling melodies.
These are gloriously handled by a cast led by Oropesa in the title role and English soprano Mary Bevan as her sister Morgana. Before the start of the performance, Oliver Mears, Covent Garden’s Director of Opera, came on stage to apologise to worry the audience with the bad news that Oropesa had been suffering from a heavy cold, but was determined to struggle on with the performance. At the start, she may have lacked a little confidence, but her voice control is the best in the business. Not only did she display no sign of her ailments from the start, but she became even better as her confidence grew throughout the performance.
She was superbly supported by Mary Bevan, whose glorious voice is always adorned in comic operas by great humour that in this case beautifully captured the lunacy of the plot. With Canadian-Italian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo in great form as Ruggiero and boy soprano Thomas Mayes, who is Head Chorister at Temple Church, giving a magnificent performance as Oberto, a young boy searching for his father who has been transformed into an animal, the entire cast combined to give a joyous and awe-inspiring performance.
Add some deliciously designed animal heads for Alcina’s victims, perfect conducting of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House by David Bates, some deliciously funny choreographed dances for the transformed animals, and an inspired new finish to the story, this all added up to one of the most blissfully impressive evenings I have ever spent at any opera.
Alcina continues at the Royal Opera House until 3 October 2026. For details and tickets, see rbo.org.uk or phone 020 7304 4000
