ORATORIO IN TWO PARTS

Libretto by Benedetto Pamphili

During his travels in Italy in 1707, Handel presented his first oratorio in Rome. A dispute between the forces that move human existence: Beauty (Bellezza) swears eternal fidelity to Pleasure (Piacere) and is consequently rebuked by Time (Tempo) and Disillusion (Disinganno). What is human existence all about? How, and to what end, is it desirable and possible for a person to develop? And isn’t a bit of beauty wonderful? At all events, Rubén Dubrovsky and his Bach Consort Wien – now among the most important artistic partners of the MusikTheater an der Wien – will supply the most beautiful orchestral sounds.

Concert performance in Italian with German surtitles

Introduction to the work 30 minutes before curtain-up