Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York

Rinaldo, opera in three acts, by Georg Frideric Handel ; libretto by Giacomo Rossi, to a scenario by Aaron Hill, after Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso ; a co-production of Glyndebourne Enterprises, Ltd, François Roussillon et associés, NHK, with the participation of France Télévisions, in association with the BBC

ita

videorecording

Rinaldo

videorecording DVD

Recorded in performance, August 2011, Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, East Sussex

by Georg Frideric Handel ; libretto by Giacomo Rossi, to a scenario by Aaron Hill, after Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso ; a co-production of Glyndebourne Enterprises, Ltd, François Roussillon et associés, NHK, with the participation of France Télévisions, in association with the BBC

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opera in three acts

The story of love, battle and redemption set at the time of the First Crusade is loosely based on Torquato Tasso's epic poem Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered). It is a spectacle of a love story with a happy ending, rather like a fairy tale - sprinkled with elements of magic, even including monsters and dragons. The Christian hero Rinaldo loves Almirena, but Armida the pagan queen and sorceress seeks to destroy Rinaldo and begins by abducting Almirena. Rinaldo comes to the rescue but is intercepted by Armida who falls in love with the hero and tries to seduce him - in vain - by transforming herself into Almirena. Armida's lover, Argante, in turn falls in love with Almirena but is repulsed. Armida tries to kill Almirena but is saved by Rinaldo who tries to kill Armida but is saved by the Furies. In the end, the pagans are defeated in battle and virtue celebrated. The lovers are happily reunited, Armida and Argante either convert to Christianity (Handel's earlier version) or descend to hell in a chariot

live action