Les Passions de l’Âme

Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (1707), Handel's entrée into the Roman beau monde, is an allegorical battle between vanity and transience. When Piacere (Pleasure) seduces Bellezza (Beauty) into a life of dissipation, the admonitions of Tempo (Time) and Disinganno (Disillusion/Truth) bring her to repentance. To withstand the ravages of time, Beauty must earn her place in heaven, because in eternity Time is powerless. The ingenious construction of the oratorio and the subtle musical characterisation of its characters foreshadow Handel's immense talent as a theatre composer. Il Trionfo has some of his most memorable melodies, such as the timelessly beautiful aria Lascia la spina. Swiss ensemble Les Passions de l'Âme are joined by a dynamic cast of singers, led by Sunhae Im. The illustrations of cartoonist Vincent Flückiger give the story added depth.