Soprano Susanna Phillips is electric in the title role in Handel's operatic masterpiece, Agrippina, live recorded on Boston Baroque’s stage and conducted by Martin Pearlman. This comedic tour-de-force tells the tale of Agrippina's plot to install her son Nero as Emperor of Rome, starring countertenor David Hansen (Nero), bass-baritone Kevin Deas (Claudius), soprano Amanda Forsythe (Poppea), and mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand (Otho).

Synopsis

ACT I
When her husband, the Roman emperor Claudius (Claudio), appears to have drowned at sea, Agrippina plots for her son Nero (Nerone) to succeed him. However, Claudius has been saved by Otho (Ottone) and so Nero’s imminent coronation is abandoned. Otho arrives and tells Agrippina that the grateful Claudius has appointed him as his successor. He also confides that he is in love with Poppea. Agrippina, knowing that Claudius has designs on Poppea as well, and seeing an opportunity to advance her cause for Nero, tells Poppea that Otho has agreed to give her up to Claudius in return for the throne. She persuades Poppea to tell Claudius that Otho has forbidden her to see him, thus prompting Claudius to refuse Otho the crown.

ACT II
Otho claims his reward from Claudius, who immediately denounces him as a traitor. Agrippina, Poppea, and Nero follow suit, leaving Otho alone, confused, and dejected. But Poppea begins to doubt his guilt, and eventually Otho convinces her that he is innocent. Meanwhile, Agrippina tells Claudius that Otho is plotting against him and persuades him to appoint Nero as Emperor.

ACT III
Poppea convinces Claudius that, while she once thought Otho had betrayed them, it was in fact Nero who had done so. She then reveals Nero hiding in her room. Claudius dismisses his stepson, who runs to his mother to inform her of Poppea’s treachery. Agrippina confronts Claudius, berates him for succumbing to Poppea’s influence, and reveals that Otho is in love with Poppea. Claudius summons Poppea, Otho, and Nero, and orders Nero to marry Poppea, while restoring Otho to the throne. Otho pleads with Claudius to allow him to forgo the throne and marry Poppea, and Claudius agrees, finally turning the throne over to Nero and blessing the marriage of Otho and Poppea.

Composers
George Frideric Handel

Featuring
Boston Baroque, orchestra
Martin Pearlman, conductor, soloist
Susanna Phillips, soloist
Susanna Phillips, Agrippina
David Hanson, Nero
Amanda Forsythe, Poppea
Kevin Deas, Claudius
Marie Lenormand, Otho
Douglas Williams, Pallas
Krista River, Narcissus
Mark McSweeney, Lesbo

Programme
George Frideric Handel: Agrippina
Duration: approx. 145 minutes

Recording date: 2022
Recording location: Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory in Boston