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Opera of the Nobility - 18th Century Disruptors

Hannah French explores the war of two 18C London opera companies - the Royal Academy and the Opera of the Nobility. Four seasons of one-upmanship led to them both going bankrupt!

Hannah French delves into the battle between the two opera companies in London in the 1730s - King George II's Royal Academy of Music with its musical director Handel - and the Prince of Wales' Opera of the Nobility under the guidance of Nicola Porpora. After four seasons of in-fighting and warring between the two factions, expensive set and costume designs and overpaid starry performers, both companies went bankrupt in 1737.

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30 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Feb 2018 14:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Nicola Porpora

    Mira in cielo (Arianna e Teseo)

    Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Director: Andrea Marcon.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Al lampo dell'armi (Giulio Cesare)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina. Director: Ottavio Dantone.

  • Trad.

    Cold and raw (The Beggar's Opera)

    Ensemble: The Broadside Band. Director: Jeremy Barlow.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Germanico in Germania (I. Sinfonia)

    Ensemble: Capella Cracoviensis. Director: Jan Tomasz Adamus.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Arianna in Nasso (I. Overture)

    Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco. Director: Alan Curtis.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Va'per la vene il sangue (Il trionfo di Camilla)

    Singer: Andreas Scholl. Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina. Director: Ottavio Dantone.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Vorrei poterti amar (Orlando)

    Singer: Catherine Robbin. Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Director: Christopher Hogwood.

  • Francesco Maria Veracini

    Se mai piagato (Adriano in Siria)

    Singer: Ugo Guagliardo. Ensemble: Europa Galante. Director: Fabio Biondi.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Alto giove (Polifemo)

    Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Orchestra: Venice Baroque Orchestra. Director: Andrea Marcon.

  • Johann Adolf Hasse

    Va' tra le selve ircane (Artaserse)

    Singer: Maria Grazia Schiavo. Ensemble: Ensemble Barocco dell'Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia. Director: Corrado Rovaris.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Vaghi amori (La festa d'Imeneo)

    Singer: Julie Boulianne. Ensemble: Clavecin en concert. Director: Luc BeausΓ©jour.

  • Nicola Porpora

    Sento pietade (Oh se fosse il mio core)

    Singer: Iestyn Davies. Ensemble: Arcangelo. Director: Jonathan Cohen.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 Feb 2018 14:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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