Aci by the River
Aci, Galatea e Polifemo HWV 72
As part of the 2024 Spring Awakenings Festival, the Handel Opera Studio presented Aci by the River, a brand-new Handel experience centred on a production of the early dramatic work Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. Aci by the River took place on the banks of the River Thames in the evocative and visually stunning Trinity Buoy Wharf Lighthouse.
“This voyage up the Thames is exactly what opera needs.” ★★★★ (The Telegraph)
Composed during a trip to Naples, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo is one of Handel’s most emotive and daring works, an ancient Greek tale which portrays the intensity of young love and how it collides with a world that seeks to control and destroy it, leading to tragic and heartbreaking consequences. Aci by the River followed a tradition from Handel’s time, where performances were preceded by other forms of entertainment.
Critically acclaimed director Jack Furness made his LHF debut, directing a cast of internationally renowned soloists full of “wit, passion and elegance.” ★★★★ (The Times)
They were joined by the London Handel Orchestra under the expert musical direction of Laurence Cummings for: “Riveting performances that underpin a gratifying meta version of Aci, Galatea e Polifemo.” ★★★★ (The Guardian)
To reach the venue, audiences were invited to travel from Central London by boat along the Thames, featuring live performances en route.
