La Nuova Musica
David Bates, director
Jeanine De Bique, soprano
Polly Leech, mezzo-soprano
Christopher Lowrey, countertenor
Nick Pritchard, tenor
George Frideric Handel
Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a
📍Wigmore Hall
📅 Saturday 28 February 2026
🕖 7.30pm BST (live stream)
🕒 Approx. 2h 30m (including interval)
💻 Free live stream (available on demand for 30 days)
Composed during his formative years in Rome—at a time when opera was banned by papal decree—Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno marks Handel’s debut oratorio and an early milestone in the Baroque repertoire. Rather than presenting a staged drama, the work unfolds as a moral and philosophical allegory, in which Beauty, Pleasure, Time and Disillusion engage in a dialogue about temptation, truth and the passing of youth.
The score already reveals the young Handel’s extraordinary theatrical instinct. Virtuosic arias, expressive recitatives and luminous instrumental writing anticipate the operatic mastery that would later define his London years. Among its highlights is the aria “Lascia la spina”, later transformed into the celebrated “Lascia ch’io pianga” in Rinaldo.
For this performance, La Nuova Musica and its founder David Bates bring their historically informed approach to Wigmore Hall’s stage. The cast features Jeanine De Bique, Polly Leech, Christopher Lowrey and Nick Pritchard, combining clarity of diction with stylistic elegance—qualities well suited to Handel’s intricate vocal writing.
The concert is sold out in the hall, but Wigmore Hall continues its generous streaming initiative, offering the performance live in HD and making it available on demand for 30 days. Viewers are invited to support the series through voluntary donations, helping sustain live performance and digital access.
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