Acis and Galatea was Handel’s most popular stage work during his lifetime, and arguably ever since. He made versions in two and three acts and combined it with other works including his own early Italian-language setting of the same myth. The work was later rescored by composers from Mozart to Mendelssohn.

This performance constitutes a rare revival of the very first version of Handel’s ‘little opera’, the one-act “Masque” created very simply at Cannons in the summer of 1718. The courtly masquerade of the 16th and 17th centuries is a direct ancestor of baroque opera in England.

Jack Adler-McKean (Musical Director)

Georgia Tryfona – Galatea

Michael Taylor – Acis

Konrad Furian – Damon

Will Kwiatkowski – Polyphemus

Holden Madagame – Coridon