Concerts, Operas, and more

Our future events

19:00 Masterpieces of Italian Music

20:00 Yiddish operetta "Die Goldene Kale" in cooperation with the Yiddishpiel Theatre

20:00 Concert of Austro-Hungarian operetta in collaboration with the Yiddishpil Theatre

19:30 G.F.Handel Opera Rinaldo

View all events

Our Latest News

The latest news, breaking stories and comment


Image

28th Mar 2025

G.F.Handel Rinaldo

Handel (1685-1759) arrived in London in 1710 already well-known as a composer of Italian operas, a reputation he had acquired during his stay in Italy. His first opera for the London stage was a three-act opera Rinaldo, written fairly quickly, since Handel recycled music from previous works. On February 24, 1711, the opera was performed for the first time at the Haymarket Theatre. It was an immediate success, following which Handel dominated the London opera scene for the following thirty years or so. The story of the opera is based on episodes from the epic poem Jerusalem Delivered, a fictional account of the first Crusade in 1099 by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso (1544-1595). Historical figures appear in the epic, and subsequently in the opera (for example, Godfrey of Bouillon – Goffredo in the opera, and Tancred), while other characters are Tasso’s invention as is the fantastical part of the story with magicians and sorceresses. The Crusaders are besieging Argante’s forces in Jerusalem, and Rinaldo has been promised that if they are victorious he will marry Goffredo’s daughter Almirena. Armida, a sorceress and queen of Damascus, tells Argante, the Saracen king of Jerusalem, that the only way to achieve victory is to persuade Rinaldo to change sides, and that she has a plan to achieve that. Almirena and Rinaldo love one another, but she is spirited away by Armida. A spirit then lures Rinaldo into a boat on the pretext that Almirena wants him. Now follows a complicated series of events in an enchanted fortress and magic garden with sorcerers, witches, spirits, fantastic machinery, ending in Rinaldo’s rescue. He rejoins his army, and ensures victory in battle. Armida and Argante, reconciled in defeat, renounce magic powers and convert to Christianity. Though the story of the opera is convoluting, and inconceivable to modern audiences, it is the music – Handel’s music -- that dominates, and is remembered till today. It is considered one of the best of Handel’s 40 operas, and after his operas had not been performed for over 200 years Rinaldo has been successfully revived in the 20th and 21st centuries, for example at the Metropolitan in New York in 1984 and at Glyndebourne in 2011. The Lyric Opera of Jerusalem will be performing the opera on July 21, 2025 at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Sderot Sha`ul Ha Melech 27, Tel Aviv-Yafo and and on July 22, 2025, at the Gerard Becher Hall, 11 Bezalel St., Jerusalem. Denis Kurson

View all news

About Jerusalem Lyric Opera


Who we are

The Jerusalem Lyric Opera is a non-profit organization which is established for the promotion of the art of opera, and the nurturing of young talent in Israel as well as from abroad, through intensive and individually tailored instruction by a renowned faculty of artists.

Our Aims

Our aim is to encourage mutual cultural dialogue amongst nations, creating innovative opportunities to enhance and promote music and opera as one of the highest forms of art and universal language. To spread musical culture amongst new generations, as well as motivate young artists by offering them the opportunity to further their careers and improve their professional technique.

Our activities

Our activities include

  • Summer Opera Festival - a flagship event to show off Jerusalem as a destination for new and unique art experiences.
  • Summer Opera Studio - one of the leading summer programs in the world for young talented artists.
  • Gala concert with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
  • Fully staged opera productions on the best stages of Jerusalem
  • Concerts of bel canto repertoire, french music, baroque repertoire
  • The international opera competition

Our partners and support

image image image image image image image image

Jerusalem Lyric Opera - Gala Concert

Gala Concert with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, dedicated to World Opera Day 2022. Jerusalem Theatre, Henry Crown Hall

Lyric Opera club

The membership price - 0 NIS/Year

Laptop

Come join the Lyric Opera Club

  • 1As a Subscriber, you are the first to hear news of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival
  • 2Get discounts and opportunity to book tickets before the general public
  • 3Your membership gives your opera experience greater depth, in the form of special offers, pre-opera talks, publications, refreshments and invitations
Join now