Rinaldo (HWV 7) is an opera by George Frideric Handel, composed in 1711, and was the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill, and the work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's Haymarket on 24 February 1711. The story of love, war and redemption, set at the time of the First Crusade, is loosely based on Torquato Tasso's epic poem Gerusalemme liberata ("Jerusalem Delivered"), and its staging involved many original and vivid effects. It was a great success with the public, despite negative reactions from literary critics hostile to the contemporary trend towards Italian entertainment in English theatres.
Librettist | Giacomo Rossi/Aaron Hill, after Tasso, La Gerusalemme liberata |
Date of composition | 1711 (Revised in 1731) |
Premiered | 1711, February 24th (Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket) in London, UK |
First published | 1711 |
Type | Opera |
Catalogue | HWV 7 |
Approx. duration | 180 minutes |
Spoken language | Italian |
Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- Goffredo: leader of the First Crusade
Voice (Castrato) - Rinaldo: a nobleman of the House of Este Voice (Soprano) - Almirena: daughter of Goffredo Voice (Castrato) - Eustazio: brother to Goffredo Voice (Tenor) - A herald Voice (Bass) - Argante: Saracen king of Jerusalem Voice (Soprano) - Armida: Queen of Damascus, Argante's mistress 2x Voice (Soprano) - Two mermaids Voice (Soprano) - A woman Voice (Castrato) - A Christian magician Orchestra Chorus/Choir - Mermaids, spirits, fairies, officers, guards, attendants |
In listings |
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Famous Works
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Links | |
Autotranslations beta |
Georg Friedrich Haendel: Rinaldo, HWV 7 Georg Friedrich Händel: Rinaldo, HWV 7 Georg Friedrich Händel: Rinaldo, HWV 7 |