It was first premiered in London in 1711. Fast forward to 2026 and the celebrated opera by composer George Frideric Handel, Rinaldo, is back, and it's absolutely spectacular.
This latest restaging delivers precision, passion, drama and intensity and is executed beautifully with grace.
Two casts are performing the famous opera on alternate evenings. The opening night consisted of stellar pitch-perfect performances by all.
The libretto is by Giacomo Rossi, who wrote this first Italian-language opera specifically for the London stage from a scenario by Aaron Hill. The tale follows the Christian knight Rinaldo (Ella-Orehek-Coddington) who vows to marry Almirena (Abigail Sinclair), the daughter of the army leader Goffredo (Owen Lucas). But the sorceress Armida (Grace Hope-Gill) kidnaps Almirena to weaken the Christian army and boost the Saracen King, Argante (Tom Butler). Rinaldo is then forced on a dangerous mission to rescue his bride-to-be, with her father and his brother Eustazio (Theodore McAlindon). We follow the quest through its battles and emotional turmoil until the lovers are reunited.
This baroque tale gets a magical modern twist by director Julia Burbach without taking away from the focus of the performance. There were no phones back in 1711, but this version features mobile phone selfies. The set, designed by Bettina John, is also cleverly modern, all white and basic and transitions between scenes with ease, keeping all the attention on the performers. And for those who might struggle following opera, there's even a discreet screen above the stage with translations. The lighting, by Robert Price compliments the set and the choreography, by Cameron McMillan, is masterful. The performance is conducted by David Bates who leads the Royal Academy Sinfonia effortlessly as the young musicians re-create Handel's music beautifully.
This restaging of Rinaldo is brought back to the stage at the Royal Academy of Music by the Royal Academy Opera and should not be missed.
The themes from 1711 are just as relevant now: love, power, war and peace. The emotional journeys of the characters resonate in a world today still grappling with personal and political conflicts.
This magnificent performance is running until 20 March and will leave you wanting more.
Review: Sunita Jaswal Photos: Craig Fulller