At its time Rinaldo created a sensation; it premiered on 24 February 1711 and was staged more than any other Handel opera during his lifetime. The renowned German baroque ensemble lautten compagney Berlin under the musical direction of Wolfgang Katschner, whose great passion applies to music theatre in a historically informed performance practice, presents an adorable interpretation of Handel’s fi rst opera in London on this CD.

About Wolfgang Katschner A lutenist by training, Wolfgang Katschner founded lautten compagney BERLIN together with Hans-Werner Apel in 1984, the focus of his many and diverse activities as musician, producer and explorer in the sound worlds of the Baroque.

During the last decade, Wolfgang Katschner has also successfully worked as a guest conductor at German opera houses. His three-year cycle of Monteverdi operas at Landestheater Niederbayern was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. After having been musical director of the Winter in Schwetzingen Festival 2012–15, including the first German performances of Nicola Porpora’s Polifemo (2012/13 season) and Tommaso Traetta’s Ifi genia in Tauride (2013/14), he has recently worked at venues such as Oper Bonn, Staatstheater Oldenburg and Staatstheater Nuremberg.