New production. Coproduction Festival Haendel de Halle.

“Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno” has a singular place in the history of what has become a genre in itself: the Haendelian oratorio, of which it is both alpha and omega. First oratorio of a young virtuoso of 22 years. The Beauty (Bellezza) who swore fidelity to Pleasure (Piacere), is reminded by Time (Tempo) and by Disillusionment, or rather the “Non-illusion”, that is to say the Truth (Disinganno). This oratorio reveals the extraordinary stylistic skills of a freshly imported musician. First of all the vocal virtuosity, especially in the arias of Beauty and Pleasure and the duo that brings them together. Orchestral virtuosity in the air of Pleasure, Come nembo che fugge, and in the swirling quartet, Voglio Tempo. And finally the virtuosity of writing, until the perfection of the quartet, one of the most prodigious ensembles of his time, exhilarating and whirling like a waltz. The aria which follows, rises perhaps still higher by the force of a total simplicity; it has barely been changed and will become Rinaldo’s first London opera, one of the composer’s most famous works under the title Lascia ch’io pianga. This oratorio, rather than their model, will be the essence of 30 future oratorios.