Il Pastor Fido – review

St George's, Hanover Square, LondonIl Pastor Fido, Handel's second opera for London, is reckoned to be one of his problem pieces. Audiences at the opening run in 1712 were fazed by its introspective mood, and found it wanting after the overt heroics of its predecessor, Rinaldo. Handel produced a substantial revision in 1734, which remains the version used for most subsequent revivals. The 1712 score, however, has always had its champions, most recently David Bates and his period ensemble La Nuov...

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