Rinaldo by Handel

An absolute must for lovers of Handel, Rinaldo is a towering Baroque opera and a masterpiece of musical drama, staged here for the first time in Australia since 1999.

In this magical tale of chivalry and cunning, the knight Rinaldo battles the scheming sorceress Armida to rescue his beloved Almirena. This was the first Italian opera ever written for the London stage, and it catapulted the young Handel to fame and fortune with its brilliant display of arias, duets and orchestral effects, by turns ravishing and thrilling.

Countertenor Jake Arditti, who wowed audiences as Nero in The Coronation of Poppea (2017), returns to dazzle again as the heroic Rinaldo. Emma Pearson (Athalia, 2018) brings her golden and wonderfully flexible soprano to the evil sorceress Armida, and Italian countertenor Carlo Vistoli (Artaserse, 2018) brings his beautifully burnished tones to the role of Goffredo. Stunning soprano Stacey Alleaume (The Loves of Apollo & Dafne, 2021) returns to Pinchgut to delight us in the role of Almirena.

Rinaldo is an undeniable  show-stopper, with sublime arias, lush instrumentation and high drama. Experience the joy of Handel at his best, brought to shimmering life in the inimitable Pinchgut way.

• Artists

  Jake Arditti

  Rinaldo

  Randall Scotting

  Goffredo

  Alexandra Oomens

  Almirena

  Adrian Tambourini

  Argante

  Emma Pearson

  Armida

  Orchestra of the Antipodes

  Erin Helyard

  Conductor

  Louisa Muller 

  Director

  Simone Romaniuk

  Designer