Riccardo Primo - Handel

Paul Agnew adds this masterpiece of opera seria—a work that showcases the full splendor of Italian bel canto—to Les Arts Florissants’ repertoire, bringing together an exceptional cast led by countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński in the title role.

Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra ranks among Handel’s most ambitious and virtuosic compositions. Premiered during the 1726–1727 season of the Royal Academy of Music with a legendary cast (the great castrato Senesino in the title role, alongside the divas Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni), the opera showcases the full splendor of bel canto: sparkling vocalises, spectacular ornamentation, dramatic contrasts, and expressive intensity. Paolo Antonio Rolli’s libretto, meanwhile, draws from the story of the conquest of Cyprus by Richard the Lionheart, providing the material for a flamboyant plot that blends romantic twists and turns, political rivalries, and royal heroism. And yet… despite its success, the work quickly fell into oblivion. 

Paul Agnew and Les Arts Florissants have taken on this masterpiece to restore it to its former glory, bringing together a dazzling cast. A true star of the opera stage, the celebrated countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński takes on the title role, alongside exceptional singers - most of whom hail from the Jardin des Voix academy - who today embody the full vitality of Baroque performance. One of the highlights of Les Arts Florissants’ season!