Opening Night Fiascos: Partenope Course/Class March 18, 2011

Partenope was a rarity in Handels catalogue, a comic opera. He was as usual struggling with trying to make a living from writing an entrepreneuring opera. It was an experiment that worked but was not without its detractors. One wrote, [The libretto] is the very worst book (excepting one) that I ever read in my whole life. Signor Stampiglia [...] endeavours to be both humorous and witty in it: if he succeeded in Italy, 't was merely from a depravity of taste in the audience; for I am very sure it will be received with contempt in England. So they said in 1730. However this uncharacteristically comic opera by Handel is being revived all round the world at present and delighting audiences. Learn the about this piece, its gender bending story and hear some of its wonderful Handelian arias.

Official Website: http://www.cce.usyd.edu.au/course/onpp