+++
author = ["authors/jenna.md"]
categories = "Humour"
date = "2015-12-29T15:32:00-05:00"
lastmod = "2015-12-30T16:02:00-05:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1451438293948/Resized---ENO-Rodelinda-Christopher-Ainslie-Iestyn-Davies-c-Clive-Barda.jpg.jpg"
primary_image_credit = "A scene from RIchard Jones' production of Rodelinda at ENO, 2014. Photo: Clive Barda/ENO"
publishDate = "2015-12-30T10:19:00-05:00"
related_articles = ["articles/4-weird-rehearsal-moments-from-the-piano-bench.md", "articles/if-opera-characters-went-to-the-opera.md", "articles/opera-lovers-their-unpopular-opinions.md", "articles/energy-boost-5-perky-patter-songs-.md"]
short_description = "There&#039;s something about Handel&#039;s operas that seems to lend a particularly blank slate to directors. Some of the wackiest takes on opera by the most Regie of the &quot;concept&quot; directors happen in Baroque opera, and Handel&#039;s works get their fair share. That&#039;s not to say that none of these ideas work well, but they sure can be weird."
slug = "5-times-handel-got-weird"
title = "5 times Handel got weird"

+++
There's something about Handel's operas that seems to lend a particularly blank slate to directors. Some of the wackiest takes on opera by the most _Regie_ of the "concept" directors happen in Baroque opera, and Handel's works get their fair share. That's not to say that none of these ideas work well, but they sure can be weird.

Handel's music is nothing but layers of meaning; it's amazingly detailed, and at the same time, listeners can hear vastly different things. Those listeners include opera directors, a notoriously creative bunch, so anything can happen when it comes to onstage ideas: neon-light Handel, boobs-out-the-whole-show Handel, vaguely-Nazi-like Handel, even bald Handel.

## Example A: Bollywood Handel

This is Nireno's aria from _Giulio Cesare_, which wasn't in the original score, but was added later by Handel. Here, it's sung (and danced!) pretty darn well by Moroccan countertenor Rachid Ben Abdeslam in David McVicar's 2005 production at Glyndebourne. I definitely can't stop watching.

<figure data-type="video">{{% md %}}<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/an_SUvpylso?start=5286" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>{{% /md %}}

</figure>

## Example B: Dark Handel

Leave it to Peter Sellars for this one. This is the finale of _Theodora_, where she and fellow Christian rebel Didymus get their death sentences at the same time. Dawn Upshaw and David Daniels sing their final duet strapped to lethal injection beds, with creepy supers milling around to keep an eye on the equipment.

<figure data-type="video">
<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AAVrDbkmY1A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

## Example C: Leggy Handel

Noëmi Nadelmann sings Armida's aria, "Molto voglio, molto spero" from _Rinaldo_ in this production by David Alden for the Bayerische Staatsoper. Or, at least I think she sings it; the legs get distracting.

<figure data-type="video">
<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ogmEaRHr7t8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

## Example D: Hybrid Handel

Congolese countertenor Serge Kakudji stars in _Coup Fatal_, a new collaboration with Fabrizio Cassol and Alain Platel. It's based on concerts that Kakudji began to give, blending operatic arias with traditional African instrumentalists. Here, as part of _Coup Fatal_, he sings "Stille amare" from _Tolomeo_; the result is kind of cool.

<figure data-type="video">
<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nJq3BZFqjQs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

## Example E: Dancing Handel

Jeez, as if Cleopatra didn't already have enough to do. Natalie Dessay sings Cleopatra's wicked aria, "Da tempeste" in David McVicar's production of _Giulio Cesare_ at the Met. I feel like the dancing in itself is kind of cute; I'm not really a fan of the total package, though.

<figure data-type="video">{{% md %}}

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/an_SUvpylso?start=11750" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>{{% /md %}}

</figure>

> What are your favourite Handel opera oddities? Let us know in the comments below!