Word: handeled
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George Frideric Handel. For almost 30 years, while the operatic vogue was at its peak, Handel was the unquestioned master of the form. Despite his historic eminence, however, he was neglected by the Metropolitan Opera until last week, when it finally staged Rinaldo...
...belching smoke, monsters writhe, and looming castles collapse in a heap of rubble. Bright and vivid, Rinaldo is a bauble for the eye; as sung by an imposing cast that includes Bass Samuel Ramey and Soprano Benita Valente, it is a treat for the ear. But whether it serves Handel or the thorny cause of baroque opera faithfully is moot...
Like other composers of his day, Handel had a freewheeling notion of textual fidelity. He cannibalized hit tunes from earlier works, rewrote arias and substituted new ones. Further, baroque opera presents stylistic problems not encountered in the standard repertory. The plots, revolving around heroes of antiquity, seem remote, and the operas lack ensembles-trios, quartets, quintets-which vary the texture. Instead, they are constructed of a chain of solo arias that illuminate a character's state of mind; action is subordinated to internal rumination...
CLAGA plans to publicize its choices in both gay and non-gay media, including its own newsletter, Handel said...
...beyond that, it is up to individuals, he added. "A lot of openly gay individuals are working on political campaigns, although CLAGA is not officially involved," Handel said...