In 1733 Frederick, Prince of Wales brought in the composer Nicola Porpora and founded the Opera of the Nobility to rival his father George II’s opera company, which was directed by George Frederick Handel. The two opera companies competed for singers, and for an audience, and by 1737 both opera companies were bankrupt. This concert features cantatas, violin sonatas, and keyboard fugues by the rival music directors Nicola Porpora and George Frederick Handel. While Handel is certainly the best known of the two composers today, you might just find Porpora a more capable rival to Handel than you would have guessed. We’ll help you compare them! Jesse Irons will play violin sonatas by both composers, Teresa Wakim will sing cantatas by each of them, and Andrus Madsen will play keyboard fugues by the rivals—all joined by continuo cellist Sarah Freiberg Ellison.
