Handel: Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra Tickets

Royal Opera of Versailles (Palace of Versailles), Paris, France

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Available Dates: 16 Oct, 2026 (1 events)

Important Info

Type: Opera in Concert

City: Paris, France

Duration: 3h

Acts: 3

Sung in: Italian

Titles in: French,English

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Cast

Performers

Choose the date to see the peformers

Creators

Composer: George Frideric Handel

Librettist: Paolo Rolli

Overview

Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra by George Frideric Handel is a baroque opera performed at the Royal Opera of Versailles. Set during the Crusades, it tells a dramatic story of love, honor, and political intrigue, brought to life through virtuosic вокальные performances and rich orchestration.

Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra (1727) is a baroque opera seria by George Frideric Handel, presented in the opulent setting of the Royal Opera of Versailles. The opera is set during the time of the Third Crusade and centers on King Richard the Lionheart as he journeys to the Holy Land.

The story unfolds on the island of Cyprus, where Riccardo’s fiancée, Costanza, is captured and held by the local ruler, Isacio. As political tensions rise, alliances shift, and personal loyalties are tested. Riccardo must navigate both military conflict and emotional turmoil to rescue Costanza and assert his authority.

The opera features the hallmarks of Handel’s style: dazzling da capo arias, expressive recitatives, and richly textured orchestration. Each character is given moments of vocal brilliance, allowing singers to display both technical virtuosity and глубокую эмоциональность.

Staged in a historically resonant venue, the production often emphasizes baroque aesthetics, with elaborate costumes, stylized movement, and attention to period detail. The result is a visually and musically immersive experience that captures the grandeur and драматическое напряжение of Handel’s operatic world.

History

Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra is a baroque opera by George Frideric Handel, presented in concert form. Set during the Crusades, it tells a dramatic story of love, power, and loyalty through virtuosic arias and expressive orchestral writing.

Synopsis

During the Third Crusade, King Riccardo (Richard the Lionheart) arrives in Cyprus on his way to the Holy Land. There, he discovers that his fiancée, Costanza, has been captured by the island’s ruler, Isacio.

As tensions rise, Riccardo confronts Isacio, who attempts to manipulate the situation for political gain. Meanwhile, Costanza remains steadfast in her loyalty despite pressure and danger. Alliances shift, conflicts intensify, and questions of honor and власть come to the forefront.

In the end, Riccardo defeats his enemies, restores justice, and reunites with Costanza, reaffirming both love and royal authority.

Venue Info

Royal Opera of Versailles (Palace of Versailles) - Paris
3 Place Léon Gambetta, Versailles

The Royal Opera of Versailles is the main theatre and opera house of the Palace of Versailles. The Royal Opera is one of the greatest works by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Inaugurated in 1770 during the reign of Louis XV, it was at the time the largest concert hall in Europe, and was also a great technical achievement and an impressive feat of decorative refinement. A theatre for monarchic and then republican life, it has hosted celebrations, shows and parliamentary debates.

Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, it is also known as the Théâtre Gabriel. The interior decoration by Augustin Pajou is constructed almost entirely of wood, painted to resemble marble in a technique known as faux marble. The excellent acoustics of the opera house is at least partly due to its wooden interior.

The house is located at the northern extremity of the north wing of the palace. General public access to the theater is gained through the two-story vestibule. Some parts of the Opéra, such as the King's Loge and the King's Boudoir represent some of the earliest expressions of what would become known as the Louis XVI style.

Lully’s Persée — written in 1682, the year Louis XIV moved into the palace — inaugurated the Opéra on 16 May 1770 in celebration of the marriage of the dauphin — the future Louis XVI — to Marie Antoinette.

The Opéra Royal can serve either as a theater for opera, stage plays, or orchestral events, when it can accommodate an audience of 712 or as a ballroom when the floor of the orchestra level of the auditorium can be raised to the level of the stage. On these occasions, the Opéra can accommodate 1,200.