Aci, Galatea e Polifemo
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Aci, Galatea e Polifemo – Serenata a tre HWV 72
Serenata a tre HWV 72
Libretto by Nicola Giuvo after Ovid’s Metamorphoses
In Italian
End of concert approx. 21:00.
Print programme (PDF)
Sunhae Im, Aci
Vivica Genaux, Galatea
Marcos Fink, Polifemo
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
René Jacobs, Conductor
During his three-year stay in Italy the young Handel also visited Naples, where he was patronised by one of the most influential families in the city and composed Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, a serenata. The story about the shepherd Aci and the sea-nymph Galatea, whose love is brought to a tragic end by the jealous giant Polifemo, gave Handel the opportunity to portray in music a rich spectrum of affects ranging between pastoral idyll and buffoonish comedy. The magnificent work reveals the influences from Handel’s new surroundings, but also how he explored new ground by experimenting in sound colour.