A spectacular opera which was the first Italian opera written for the London stage. It premiered in 1711 and caused huge excitement. Apart from three lead castrati roles, it features two breathtaking soprano roles. Set during the siege of Jerusalem, the libretto features a magic hermit, a dark sorceress, a virtuous princess, magical transformations, seduction, two kidnappings and an epic battle on a magical mountain.
The plot is too elaborate to explain here... Musical highlights include the sublime soprano aria Lascia ch'io pianga for Almirena and a breathtaking cabaletta with wild harpsichord accompaniment for Armida, the sorceress, at the end of Act 2. This was the work that started the opera craze in London.
Here in Opera Australia's sublime production of 1999 is the gorgeous Yvonne Kenny as Armida, the ravishing Emma Matthews as Almirena and the spectacular Australian countertenor Graham Pushee as Rinaldo.
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