G. F. Handel: Agrippina
Flemish Opera, Ghent
Flemish Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Paul McCreesh, conductor
CAST: Ann Hallenberg (Agrippina); Renata Pokupić (Nerone); Joao Fernandes (Pallas); José Lemos (Narcissus); Gevorg Grigoryan (Lesbo); Kirstina Hammarström (Ottone); Elena Tsallagova (Poppea); Umberto Chiummo (Claudio); Marija Jokovic (Juno)
Handel's Italian operas made him the toast of London long before his famous English oratorios caught the public's ear. Agrippina is named for Nero's shrewd and savvy mother, without whom the infamous emperor could never have fiddled while Rome burned.