Words and Music

Geraldine James and Michael Maloney read extracts from journals, newspapers, letters and poetry of Handel's time about the highs and lows of opera and oratorio performances in London. These are interspersed with music by the composer himself. In his London operas, Handel provided vehicles for the most famous singers, mostly brought over from Italy. The infamous rivalries between singers such as Senesino, Cuzzoni and Faustina were played out in public.