27th October

Concert will begin at 23:30 hours GMT

Met's encore stream: Händel's 'Agrippina' with DiDonato, Rae, Lindsey and Davies from New York

Händel's 'Agrippina' is an opera seria from a libretto by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani. Composed for the 1709–10 Venice Carnevale season, the opera tells the story of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, as she plots the downfall of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the installation of her son as emperor. Grimani's libretto, considered one of the best that Handel set, is an 'anti-heroic satirical comedy', full of topical political allusions. Performers:

Poppea: Brenda Rae.
Agrippina: Joyce DiDonato.
Nerone: Kate Lindsey.
Ottone: Iestyn Davies.
Pallante: Duncan Rock.
Claudio: Matthew Rose.

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Harry Bicket.

Recorded 29 February.