A German-born naturalised Englishman, Georg Friedrich Händel was one of the great composers of the Baroque period, particularly famous for his operas and oratorios. He treated the human voice with special devotion and gave it some of his most beautiful melodies, demanding dramatic expressiveness, virtuosity and emotional depth from the performers. Taking advantage of the fact that its principal conductor is one of the world’s leading experts on Handel’s music, Laurence Cummings, the Orquestra Barroca Casa da Música brings together in this programme excerpts from famous operas such as Alcina and Ariodante, but also lesser-known titles such as Lotario. Stories of love, conflict, intrigue and witchcraft come to life in the voice of Marie Lys, the award-winning soprano who caused a sensation in 2022 when she replaced Cecilia Bartoli in the lead role of Alcina at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.