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© Bertrand Pichene
Aci, Galatea e Polifemo
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June 2026 | ||||||
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Aci, Galatea e Polifemo – Georg Friedrich Händel | Opera in Concert
Serenade for three voices
Libretto in Italian by Niccolò Giuvo based on Metamorphoses by Ovid
Approximate running time: 1 hour 45 minutes
A dramatic oratorio based on Greek mythology
Acis, Galatea and Polyphemus (HWV 72) is one of the most outstanding works of Georg Friedrich Händel, composed in 1708. This piece, which can be considered a dramatic oratorio, is based on Greek mythology (compiled in the book Metamorphoses by Ovid) and tells the love story between the shepherd Acis and the nereid Galatea, as well as the jealousy and revenge of the cyclops Polyphemus, a cyclops who, consumed by rage, ends Acis's life. A reflection of extreme human passions, Händel’s music is masterfully used to express love, desire, and tragedy.
The plot centers around three main characters: Acis, a young shepherd who is in love with Galatea, a beautiful sea nymph, and Polyphemus, a cyclops who also falls in love with Galatea and, after being rejected, is consumed by his desire for revenge. In an act of jealousy, Polyphemus kills Acis, but Galatea, in her sorrow, transforms her beloved's body into a clear water spring, thus immortalizing their love forever. This idea of transforming death into life through nature gives the opera a poetic and transcendental quality.
Composed for a smaller production at the English court, the opera follows a structure typical of the Baroque period, with recitatives, arias, and choruses that allow for the expression of a wide range of emotions. Händel uses the music in such a way that it not only accompanies the narrative but also delves into the psychology of the characters, creating moments of great dramatic and emotional intensity.
The death of Acis is one of the most tragic moments in the opera. When Polyphemus, in a fit of rage, kills Acis, the music shifts to a dark and dramatic tonality that accentuates the suffering. However, the climax occurs when Galatea, in her despair, transforms Acis into a clear water spring, an act that represents the permanence of her love beyond death. The music accompanying this transformation is serene and lyrical, providing a sense of peace and eternity.
A concert with beauties and beasts in the context of Händel's early journey, when he learned the craft of opera composition in Italy. René Jacobs will guide us through this dramatic cantata/serenata written in 1708, when the German musician presented the work to the Duchess of Laurenzana on the occasion of her niece’s wedding.
Program and cast
Aci - Kateryna Kasper
Galatea - Sophie Harmsen
Polifemo - Christian Senn
Kammerorchester Basel
Director - René Jacobs
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Barcelona's opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, was founded on the Rambla in 1847 and has continued over the years to fulfil its role as a culture and arts centre and one of the symbols of the city.
Today it is publicly-owned (by the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) and administered by the Fundació del Gran Teatre del Liceu which, in addition to the aforementioned bodies, incorporates the Patronage Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu (the old society of owners).
Origins: From 1837 to 1847
The Liceu evolved out of the Sociedad Dramática de Aficionados (Society of theatre-lovers) set up in 1837 at the instigation of Manuel Gibert in the former convent of Montsió by members of the National Militia, an organization of armed citizens with liberal leanings.
Barcelona's economy and population were growing fast at the time and the city needed a music conservatory. This led to the conversion of the Sociedad Dramática into the Liceo Filármonico Dramático Barcelonés de S.M. la Reina Isabel II (Barcelona Dramatic and Philharmonic Lyceum of HM Queen Isabel II). In addition to its theatrical activities, the new organization cultivated Italian-style singing and music.
The building on the Rambla
The original building was solemnly opened on 4 April 1847. The plans had been drawn up by Miquel Garriga i Roca, subsequently assisted by Josep Oriol Mestres. The project was funded by selling shares, which meant that many of the boxes and seats were to be privately owned. The shareholders formed the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu, known as the “Societat de Propietaris” (Society of Owners), which was in sole charge of running the Gran Teatre del Liceu from 1855 onwards, after it was legally separated from the Conservatori del Gran Teatre del Liceu.
The theatre was operated by impresarios who were given a concession to stage a specific number of productions in exchange for the proceeds from the sale of tickets not reserved for the Societat itself. This system was to endure until 1980.
The creation of the Consortium
By the last quarter of the 20th century this management system was no longer viable. In 1980, to avert the danger of the disappearance of an institution of such worldwide cultural renown, the Generalitat Catalonia's first government in modern times – set up a consortium, the Consorci del Gran Teatre del Liceu, which also incorporated Barcelona City Council and the Societat del Gran Teatre del Liceu. Barcelona Provincial Council joined the Consortium in 1985, followed by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1986. From then on the Consortium took over operation of the theatre.
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