A quirky comedy of oversized egos in a dysfunctional first family brought the 24-year-old Handel his breakthrough in the Italian opera scene, and thus in the world. Sparkling melodies and hair-raising turf wars made him "everybody's darling" in the "Las Vegas" of the 18th century – Venice was then Europe's number one entertainment capital. His nickname "Il caro Sassone – Our dear Saxon" came about with "Agrippina." “In every second without music, clapping and shouts of ‘Viva il caro Sassone – Long live the dear Saxon!’ and other expressions of applause, too exaggerated to quote here, shook the theater,” reported John Mainwaring. “Everyone was astonished by the grandeur and sublimity of his style, for until then no one here had heard anything remotely resembling such powerful harmonies and such dense modulations, combined in such a magical way.”

Frank Schönwald

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 20 - Jun 13, 2026

Agrippina · Staatskapelle Halle

Past events

Feb 20 - Jun 13, 2026

Agrippina · Staatskapelle Halle

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