With the new works Alessandro and Scipione, London opera-goers were delighted by the arrival from Italy of the celebrity soprano Faustina Bordoni. The soprano Francesca Cuzzoni was already the established ‘prima donna’ in London, and Handel carefully composed operas with two equally important roles to suit both singers. They were seen as competing for top position, and became known as the ‘rival queens’, although it was their fans who escalated this rivalry and the singers worked well together.
Italian singers were at the height of fashion in London at this time, and Handel composed many lead roles for the alto castrato Senesino, although their working relationship was sometimes stormy.
This small display is in the Handel Gallery on the top floor of the Museum.
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