Programme

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759: Acis and Galatea HWV 49a (1718)

Baroque opera with the puppets / Lyric: John Gay, Alexander Pope and John Hughes

The idea to stage Handel’s Acis and Galatea with puppets have originated during cooperation of Collegium Marianum and Buchty a loutky puppet theater in Cavalli’s La Calisto. It was so inspiring for both sides, that we decided to create another puppet performances linking the world of puppets with the art of singers and instrumentalists. And this time with a different approach that would point out the dreamy and magical character of mythological story of Handel’s master piece. The interaction between the singers and puppets, stage effects, along with a highly eloquent Handel’s music, certainly promise an unforgettable experience.

On stage will be another, a puppet, theater, whose height and width allows soloists to move along with the puppets. And so Acis, Galatea, Damon and Coridon, who are later disturbed by giant Polyphemos, are here in the puppet world, here again in the real world, like puppets, while theirs emotions accompany baroque gestures. Singers inspired puppets and vice versa. Furthermore, there are things that a human being cannot, but the puppet so, for example, become a giant Cyclops …

Czech Television’s recording

https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/11823877231-acis-a-galatea/