Synopsis

On today’s date in 1727, the opera season in London ended early when rival Italian prima donnas, Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni, came to blows on stage during a performance of an opera by Bononcini.

Londoners were shocked, but not surprised. Trouble had been brewing between the two, egged on by partisan behavior from their rabid English fans, who (depending on their preference) greeted them with either extravagant applause and bravos, or catcalls, hissing and, as one contemporary put it, “other great indecencies.”

It was all terrific for the box office, as Handel must have realized and so worked their rivalry into his opera Alessandro, in which the hero finds it hard to decide between the attractions of the dueling divas. He prudently gave exactly the same number of solos to each soprano.

Even so, according to Handel’s first biographer, years earlier he had threatened to toss Cuzzoni out the window when, during a rehearsal she refused point blank to sing one of his arias. “Madam,” he is quoted as roaring as he dragged her towards the window, “I know you are a veritable devil, but I would have you know that I am Beelzebub, the king of all the devils!”

Music Played in Today's Program

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): “Aria” from Alessandro; Lisa Saffer, soprano; Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, conductor; Harmonia Mundi 90.7036