About this episode
The episode explores Handel's opera 'Alcina', focusing on its themes of enchantment and love.
A seemingly all-powerful sorceress rules over her own island domain. She enchants not only nature, but also men, who are helpless to resist her charms. And when she does tire of those besotted men, it’s nothing that a transfiguration from man to animal cannot solve. However, downfall is imminent when she truly falls in love with one of the ensnared men. It turns out that this man’s true love is a fearsome warrior woman, whose skills rival those of Charlemagne’s famed paladins. (Big trouble for Alcina!) This story, like Vivaldi’s Orlando Furioso (Ep. 130), is based on a 16th century epic that is so rich in dramatic detail and power that it has inspired countless works of art in myriad mediums. Alcina is one of the three (!) operas by Handel based on this source material. Join Pat and guest co-host Jeff Counts as we meet this enchanting woman and the characters who surround her. Jeff Counts is the general manager of the Grand Teton Music Festival and KHOL’s film critic.
People in this episode
Host: Pat
Guest: Jeff Counts
Topics covered
- opera
- Handel
- sorcery
- love
- transformation
- epic literature
Keywords
- Alcina
- Handel
- opera
- sorceress
- transfiguration
- warrior woman
- epic
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Grand Teton Music Festival, KHOL
Books & works: Alcina, Orlando Furioso
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- Ep. 139 Le Prophète by Meyerbeer · February 10, 2026 · 1h 58m
- Ep. 138 Rienzi, The Last of the Tribunes, by Wagner · January 12, 2026 · 2h 4m
- Ep. 137 The Threepenny Opera by Weill and Brecht · December 14, 2025 · 1h 60m
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