Riccardo Primo

Every Handel opera promises a dazzling experience. In Riccardo Primo, Baroque bel canto shines in all its glory, with the great Richard the Lionheart in the title role as he sets out to conquer Cyprus… and rescue the beautiful Costanza.

Storms, shipwrecks, mistaken identities, a military siege and a happy ending: Riccardo Primo, re d’Inghilterra celebrated both the coronation of King George II and Handel’s recent naturalisation.

A work of remarkable virtuosity and moments of exquisite tenderness, Handel’s magnificent score premiered at London’s King’s Theatre on 11 November 1727, featuring some of the greatest operatic stars of the day. The cast included rival sopranos Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni, whose onstage clashes were eagerly followed by audiences, alongside the celebrated castrato Senesino in the demanding role of Riccardo.

Following their production of Ariodante with William Christie, Les Arts Florissants make a grand return to Dijon under the baton of Paul Agnew.

Mécène des Arts Florissants pour cette production

Libretto Paolo Antonio Rolli
Adapted from Francesco Briani’s libretto for Isacio tiranno by Antonio Lott

Musical director Paul Agnew
Les Arts Florissants

Riccardo Hugh Cutting
Costanza Mélissa Petit
Pulcheria Juliette Mey
Isacio Andreas Wolf 
Oronte Paul Figuier
Berardo Alex Rosen