Stage Director

With the fifth new production of Handel’s Agrippina in the history of Halle Opera, two world stars will be making their first appearance at the Handel Festival on the Saale: the British conductor Laurence Cummings, formerly director of the Handel Festivals in London and Göttingen and today music director at the Academy of Ancient Music London, and the Serbian scenic designer Aleksandar Denić, known for his powerful graphic creations for Emir Kusturica and Frank Castorf. Together with Walter Sutcliffe, they are creating a vibrant new perspective on Handel’s youthful work. Romelia Lichtenstein leads an international cast of prominent guest singers and ensemble members. This melodious comedy of oversized egos in a dysfunctional First Family gave the 24-year-old composer his breakthrough. It shows a society driven by greed for power, vanity, cunning and stupidity in a complex plot with numerous, fortuitous reversals of situation.

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Agrippina

The Opera Halle

Love conquers all in ancient Rome. The baddies win, the goodies are banished or killed. Social advancement and power politics govern Monteverdi’s soap opera: the first great work of baroque musical theatre. A stellar international cast includes the return of Italian star Anna Bonitatibus (Il ritorno d’Ulisse and Agrippina) as the rejected empress Ottavia. Another Grange Festival favourite, Kitty Whately is Poppea, paired with 'lyric tenor going places' and finalist in our 2018 International Singing Competition, Sam Furness as Nerone. And we welcome acclaimed American counter-tenor Christopher Lowrey as Ottone, New Zealand Bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu as Seneca and the popular German soprano Vanessa Waldhart as Drusilla. The groundbreaking instrumental ensemble La Nuova Musica is led by David Bates. Our new production, in partnership with Oper Halle, will be created by director Walter Sutcliffe and designer Jon Bausor, the team whose brilliant Agrippina at The Grange Festival in 2018 caused such a stir.

L'incoronazione di Poppea

The Grange at Northington

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.”

Halle Opera House

Six young people eke out a living with precarious work: Poet Rodolfo works at a newspaper and dreams of his breakthrough as a playwright. Marcello paints advertisements on walls. Philosopher Colline lives off private lessons. Musician Schaunard tinkers his way through bars. Mimì embroiders flowers on jewelry ribbons. Musetta keeps wealthy lovers.

La bohème

Jerusalem during the Crusades: The Christian knights prepare for battle, but their plans are thwarted by the Saracen king Argante and the powerful sorceress Armida. Rinaldo is particularly devastated when his beloved Almirena is abducted. Armida, disguised as Almirena, attempts to seduce him and win him over to her side. Caught between love, duty, and temptation, Rinaldo becomes a pawn in a game of opposing forces. Will he be able to resist the allure of power and magic?

Stage Director

Walter Sutcliffe

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 20 - Jun 13, 2026

Agrippina · Staatskapelle Halle

Feb 22, 2026

La bohème · Staatskapelle Halle

May 29 - Jun 14, 2026

Rinaldo · Staatskapelle Halle

Past events

6 - 15 Jun, 2025

Agrippina · Händel-Festspiele Halle

7 - 22 Jun, 2024

L'incoronazione di Poppea · The Grange Festival

About

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