Agrippina

Sister to Caligula, wife of Claudius and mother of Nero

Overview

Following their five-star production of Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Michael Chance and Robert Howarth join forces again to lead the musical direction in another wonderful story from the classical world. Anna Bonitatibus heads a world-class cast including the much sought-after countertenor Raffaele Pe, 2011 London Handel Singing Competition winner Stefanie True, and Jonathan Best making a welcome return to The Grange.

Walter Sutcliffe, Northern Ireland Opera’s artistic director, and his designer Jon Bausor’s inspired vision brings to life the humour, satire and egomania of one of opera’s most outrageous leading women. The youthful Handel packed Agrippina with the full range of his astonishing imagination, setting a libretto at once hilarious, moving and clever. Handel’s music is bursting with originality and fun, as well as carefully considered moments of eye-watering beauty.

Composer — Georg Frideric Handel
Librettist — Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani
Orchestra — The Academy of Ancient Music

Production Team

Synopsis

Act I
Act II
Act III

When her husband, the Roman emperor Claudius (Claudio), is apparently drowned at sea, Agrippina plots for her son Nero (Nerone) to be his successor.

In fact, Claudius has been saved by Otho (Ottone) and the imminent coronation of Nero is abandoned.

Otho arrives and tells Agrippina that Claudius, in gratitude, has appointed him his successor. He also tells her that he is in love with Poppea.

Agrippina, aware that Claudius also loves Poppea, tells Poppea that Otho has agreed to give her to Claudius in return for the crown. She suggests to Poppea that by telling Claudius that Otho has refused Poppea access to him, the emperor will dismiss Otho from the throne.

Otho claims his reward from Claudius who denounces him as a traitor. He is then vilified by Agrippina, Poppea and Nero.

But Poppea begins to doubt his guilt, and eventually Otho convinces her of his innocence.

Agrippina then tells Claudius that Otho is plotting against him and persuades him to appoint Nero emperor.

Poppea explains to Claudius that whereas she once thought Otho had betrayed him, it was in fact Nero, whom she then reveals hiding behind a curtain in her room. Claudius dismisses his stepson, who informs his mother of Poppea's treachery.

Agrippina confronts Claudius, berates him for succumbing to Poppea's influence, and claims that Otho loves Poppea, thereby forcing Claudius to summon all three.

He orders Nero to marry Poppea and leaves the succession with Otho, who requests that he might forego the crown for Poppea's hand in marriage. Claudius agrees, and blesses Poppea and Otho's marriage.

Cast

Reviews

In all it's a terrific show, and the only Handel production I've ever seen which obeys the old showbiz principle: leave your audience wanting more

The Telegraph

this is classy, provocative entertainment, and hugely enjoyable

The Guardian

Walter Stucliffe's production trades in the thrills and spills, deceptions, seductions, and revelations, cutting out the recitatives so that the whole thing rushes along as if there's no tomorrow

The Independent

Its glorious music, political satire and imaginative staging make this an absolute must-see production

Bachtrack

There is nothing to equal the collaboration of real experts in their field, as The Grange Festival has demonstrated yet again with this stunning Agrippina

musicOMH

A production such as this breathes new life into Baroque opera, showing to those open-minded enough to see it, how such works can still excite attention and pleasure

Classical Source