Handel: Xerxes (Serse)(2018)

Handel: Xerxes (Serse) Synopsis

Xerxes is one of Handel’s latest and most frequently performed operas, famous for its marvelous opening aria ‘Ombra mai fu’. At the centre of the confusing tragicomedy, very loosely based upon the life of Xerxes I of Persia, is a powerful and lovesick royal eccentric, King Xerxes. Rising opera star Gaëlle Arquez in the title role of Xerxes ‘scintillates with her nimble, luminous mezzo-soprano’, singing ‘irresistibly beautiful, impassioned, furious – but never mean’ (Frankfurter Rundschau). Frankfurt’s excellent Opera and Museum Orchester contributes ‘all sorts of refinements’ to this ‘musical smash hit’ (Deutschlandfunk) and ‘In Frankfurt Tilman Köhler ensures a three-hour short abundant and furious banquett … a great evening of opera’ (Deutschlandfunk).

Handel: Xerxes (Serse) (2018) is a drama, comedy, music and history film directed by Tiziano Mancini, released on September 14, 2018 with a runtime of 3h. It stars Louise Alder, Gaëlle Arquez, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner and Brandon Cedel.