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 Famous Works
Links
Autotranslations beta Georg Friedrich Haendel: Rinaldo, HWV 7
Georg Friedrich Händel: Rinaldo, HWV 7
Georg Friedrich Händel: Rinaldo, HWV 7