RODELINDA
Music by: G.F. Handel (1685-1759)
Libretto by: Nicola Francesco Haym (1678-1729)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2023 | 7:30PM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2023 | 2:30PM
Music Director: Eric Taeyang Mun
Stage Director: Claire Choquette
CAST
Rodelinda: Jennifer Youngs
Bertarido: Michael Skarke
Grimoaldo: Jeremiah Tyson*
Eduige: Hannah Ceniseros
Unulfo: Hunter Sabin*
Gariboldo: Joseph Canuto Leon
*company debut
Run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
HISTORY
Handel composed Rodelinda for the Royal Academy of Music. He helped create such a venture in London with his own operas as one of its main points of attraction. Rodelinda was first performed in early 1725 at the King’s Theater.
SYNOPSIS
ACT I Rodelinda mourns the supposed death of Bertarido. Grimoaldo offers her marriage, but she rejects his proposal. His ally Garibaldo tells him to break off his engagement to Eduige, which he immediately does. Garibaldo reveals that he will use Eduige as a pawn in his own bid for power, on which she has a claim. Bertarido enters, in disguise. He watches his monument where Unulfo joins him, but both men are forced to hide when Rodelinda and Flavio enter to visit the memorial. When he sees Rodelinda, Bertarido wants to end his wife’s grief by making himself known to her, but Unulfo restrains him. Garibaldo threatens to kill Flavio unless Rodelinda consents to marry Grimoaldo. Rodelinda agrees to accept Grimoaldo. However, she warns Garibaldo that once she is again queen he will be executed. Bertarido believes Rodelinda is unfaithful. He refuses to allow Unulfo to tell Rodelinda that he is alive and decides instead to wait until she has pledged herself to Grimoaldo.
ACT II Garibaldo tells Eduige she has lost Grimoaldo to Rodelinda and should marry him instead. Eduige is horrified by Rodelinda’s consent to marry Grimoaldo. Her love for Grimoaldo now switches to hate, and she plans to take revenge. Rodelinda confirms to Grimoaldo that she will marry him, but one condition must be met: that he kill Flavio before her eyes. She cannot be a usurper’s wife and the mother of the lawful king at the same time. Unulfo realizes that Garibaldo will betray Grimoaldo as readily as he did Bertarido, and that Rodelinda is, in fact, true to her husband. Bertarido laments the position in which he now finds himself. Eduige enters and recognizes him. She is pleased to learn that he only wants to rescue his wife and son, not regain his throne (to which she still aspires). Unulfo assures Bertarido that Rodelinda remains faithful to him and that the time has come for him to reveal his identity. Rodelinda is told by Unulfo that Bertarido is alive. Husband and wife are reunited and he begs her forgiveness for ever doubting her constancy. When Grimoaldo discovers them together, he fails to recognize Bertarido and is appalled to find Rodelinda in the arms of a stranger. Bertarido declares his identity but Rodelinda, afraid for her husband’s safety, claims he is lying. Grimoaldo, uncertain whether the man is her lover or her husband, decides that he will die anyway and leaves the couple to a final parting.
ACT III Eduige gives Unulfo a key to the prison cell in which Bertarido is held. Meanwhile, Garibaldo urges Grimoaldo to execute the prisoner without delay. Grimoaldo is unable to act. Bertarido is bemoaning his fate when he hears someone approaching the cell door. He assumes it to be his executioner, lashes out and wounds the intruder – who turns out to be Unulfo come to rescue him. Bertarido changes his clothes to disguise himself and he and Unulfo escape via a secret passage. Eduige, Rodelinda and Flavio arrive to rescue Bertarido. When they discover only his old clothes and fresh blood they assume he has been killed. Rodelinda wishes that someone would kill her and end her suffering. While Grimoaldo enters, tormented by his crimes and longing for a simpler life. He falls asleep. Garibaldo appears and, seizing his chance, attempts to kill Grimoaldo; but Bertarido steps forward from his hiding place and kills Garibaldo. Rodelinda enters and is astonished to find Bertarido alive. Unulfo and Eduige explain the rescue. In gratitude for saving his life, Grimoaldo restores the throne, Rodelinda and their son to Bertarido, and takes Eduige as his wife.
