A stolen throne. A fake death. A queen who refuses to break.

Believing her husband, King Bertarido, is dead, Queen Rodelinda is trapped in a deadly game of political chess with the usurper Grimoaldo. To save her son, she must agree to marry the man who stole her crown. But Bertarido is alive, watching from the shadows, and plotting a daring rescue.

Rodelinda brings us opera’s first great heroine, in a thrilling blend of political intrigue, betrayal and devotion. Handel’s masterly score unfolds at pace in this condensed  two-act production, performed by our powerhouse ensemble of established and emerging baroque specialists.

Cast & Creatives

Musical Director Oliver John Ruthven
Stage Director Valeria Perboni

Rodelinda - Theano Papadaki
Bertarido -  Hilary Summers
Grimoaldo - Richard Milnes
Garibaldo - Michael Ronan
Unulfo - Dominic Mattos
Eduige - Lydia Shariff

Belsize Baroque, leader Catherine Martin

*Performed in Italian with surtitles.