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Overview

Synopsis

The famous knight Ruggiero has been abducted by a sorceress. His fiancee, Bradamante, is determined to rescue him. Borrowing some of her brother’s clothes, she disguises herself as a soldier and convinces her guardian. Melisso, to sail to the enchanted island where this sorceress lives. But Alcina’s power is incredibly strong. Ruggiero does not remember his former life, and he does not recognise Bradamante. It is only through the use of a magic ring that Ruggiero is able to see Alcina’s island for what it really is: a desolate wasteland. Everything he has grown to love and know as home has been a lie.

Being reunited with Bradamante strengthens Ruggiero and he is able to defeat Alcina, and her hordes of monsters on the island. He destroys the urn that contains all of her power and the wild beasts and rocks transform back into men; all of Alcina’s former lovers that have been trapped on the island. Wickedness is defeated and true love triumphs.

With some of Handel’s most well-known melodies, and a plot full of heroism, love, and witchcraft, Alcina remains as popular with audiences today as it was at its first performance in 1735.

Show Information

Music
George Frederic Handel
Libretto
Antonio Marchi
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Orlando Furioso by Ariosto
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1735
Genres
Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
ancient times, enchanted island
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Alcina

Lead

Female

Soprano

Ruggiero

Lead

Either Gender

Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor

Bradamante

Lead

Female

Contralto

Morgana

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Oronte

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Melisso

Supporting

Male

Bass

Oberto

Supporting

Either Gender

Soprano, Countertenor, Treble/Boy Soprano

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Overture

Act One

Scene One

  • Recitative ‘Oh Dei! Quivi non scorgo’ - Bradamante, Melisso, Morgana
  • No. 1 Aria ‘O s’apre al riso’ - Morgana

Scene Two

  • No. 2 Chorus ‘Questo è il cielo di contenti’
  • No. 3 Gavotte
  • No. 4 Sarabande
  • No. 5 Menuet
  • No. 6 Gavotte
  • Recitative ‘Ecco l’infido’ - Bradamante, Ruggiero, Melisso
  • No. 7 Aria ‘Di’, cor mio’ - Alcina

Scene Three

Scene Four

  • Recitative ‘Mi ravvisi, Ruggier’ - Bradamante, Ruggiero, Melisso
  • No. 9 ‘Di te mi rido’ - Ruggiero

Scene Five

  • Recitative ‘Qua dunque ne veniste’ - Oronte, Bradamante

Scene Six

  • Recitative ‘Io sono tua difesa’ - Morgana, Bradamante
  • No. 10 Aria ‘È gelosia’ - Bradamante

Scene Seven

  • Recitative ‘Io dunque’ - Oronte, Morgana

Scene Eight

  • Recitative ‘La cerco invano’ - Ruggiero, Oronte
  • No. 11 Aria ‘Semplicetto!’ - Oronte

Scene Nine

  • Recitative ‘Ah! Infedele’ - Ruggiero, Alcina

Scene Ten

  • Recitative ‘Regina, il tuo soggiorno’ - Bradamante, Alcina, Ruggiero
  • No. 12 Aria ‘Si, son quella’ - Alcina

Scene Eleven

  • Recitative ‘Se nemico mi fossi’ - Bradamante, Ruggiero

Scene Twelve

  • Recitative ‘Bradamante favella?’ - Ruggiero, Melissa, Bradamante
  • No. 13 Aria ‘La bocca vaga’ - Ruggiero

Scene Thirteen

  • Recitative ‘A quai strani perigli’ - Melisso, Bradamante

Scene Fourteen

Act Two

Scene One

  • No. 15 Arioso ‘Col celarvi’ - Ruggiero
  • Recitative ‘Taci, taci codardo’ - Melisso, Ruggiero
  • No. 16 Arioso ‘Qual portento’ - Ruggiero
  • Recitative ‘Atlante, dove sei?’ - Ruggiero, Melisso
  • No. 17 Aria ‘Pensa a chi geme’ - Melisso

Scene Two

Scene Three

  • Recitative ‘Chi scuopre al mio pensiero’ - Ruggiero
  • No. 19 ‘Mi lusinga il dolce affetto’ - Ruggiero

Scene Four

  • Recitative ‘S’acquieti il rio sospetto’ - Alcina, Morgana

Scene Five

  • Recitative ‘E la tua pace’ - Morgana, Alcina, Ruggiero
  • No. 20 Aria ‘Ama, sospira’ - Morgana

Scene Six

  • Recitative ‘Non scorgo nel tuo viso’ - Alcina, Ruggiero
  • No. 21 Aria ‘Mio bel tesoro’ - Ruggiero

Scene Seven

  • Recitative ‘Regina, io cerco invano’ - Oberto, Alcina
  • No. 22 Aria ‘Tra speme e timore’ - Oberto

Scene Eight

Scene Nine

  • Recitative ‘Or che dici’ - Oronte, Morgana

Scene Ten

  • Recitative ‘All’offesa’ - Oronte
  • No. 24 Aria ‘E un folle’ - Oronte

Scene Eleven

  • Recitative ‘Ed è ver’ - Oberto, Bradamante

Scene Twelve

Scene Thirteen

  • No. 26 Accompagnato ‘Ah! Ruggiero crudel’ - Alcina
  • No. 27 ‘Ombre pallide’ - Alcina
  • No. 28 Entrée des Songes agréables
  • No. 29 Entrée des Songes funestes
  • No. 30 Entrée des Songes agréables effrayés
  • Le combat des Songes funestes et agréables

Act Three

No. 31 Sinfonia

Scene One

  • Recitative ‘Voglio amar’ - Oronte, Morgana
  • No. 32 Aria ‘ Credete al mio dolore’ - Morgana
  • Recitative ‘M’inganna’ - Oronte
  • No. 33 Aria ‘Un momento di contento’ - Oronte

Scene Two

  • Recitative ‘Molestissimo incontro’ - Ruggiero, Alcina
  • No. 34 Aria ‘Ma quando tornerai’ - Alcina

Scene Three

Scene Four

  • Recitative ‘Vanne tu seco ancora’ - Melisso, Bradamante
  • No. 36 Aria ‘All’alma fedel’ - Bradamante

Scene Five

  • Recitative ‘Niuna forza l’arresta’ - Oronte, Alcina
  • No. 37 Aria ‘Mi restano le lagrime’ - Alcina

Scene Six

  • No. 38 Chorus ‘Sin per le vie del sole’
  • Recitative ‘Già vicino e’l momento’ - Oberto, Alcina
  • No. 39 Aria ‘Barbara!’ - Oberto

Scene Seven

  • Recitative ‘Le lusinghe’ - Bradamante, Alcina, Ruggiero
  • No. 40 Trio ‘Non e amor’ - Alcina, Bradamante, Ruggiero

Scene Eight

  • Recitative ‘Prendi, e vivi’ - Ruggiero, Oronte

Scene Nine

  • Recitative ‘Ah, mio Ruggier’ - Alcina, Ruggiero, Bradamante

Scene Ten

  • Recitative ‘Misera, ah, no!’ - Alcina, Morgana

Final Scene

  • Recitative ‘A che tardi?’ - Melisso, Ruggiero, Oronte, Bradamante, Alcina, Morgana
  • No. 41 Chorus ‘Dall’orror di notte cieca’ - Tutti
  • No. 42 Entrée
  • No. 43 Tamburino
  • No. 44 Chorus ‘Dopo tante amare pene’

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.