Partenope by Handel

Let the games begin

One of Handel's most irresistible comedies brings Pinchgut Opera's 25th anniversary season to a dazzling close. Elegant, playful and endlessly inventive, Partenope transforms romance into a game of strategy, disguise and deliciously shifting allegiances, in which every heart has something to lose.

Samantha Clarke leads an exceptional international cast as the captivating Queen Partenope, reunited with English countertenor Hugh Cutting after their acclaimed appearances in Julius Caesar (2024). Christopher Lowrey also makes his eagerly awaited return to Pinchgut after memorable performances in Theodora (2016 and 2024) and Farnace (2019). Director Dean Bryant returns, following Giustino (2023) and The First Murder (2026), bringing his characteristic wit, warmth and theatrical imagination to Handel's sophisticated comedy.

At Partenope's glamorous court, three rival suitors compete for the Queen's affection. But when the mysterious Eurimene arrives, concealed beneath a male disguise, old betrayals resurface and the rules of the game begin to change. Identities blur, loyalties shift and pride collides with desire as each character is forced to decide what — and whom — they truly want.

Overflowing with exquisite arias, comic brilliance and emotional warmth, Partenope is Handel at his most stylish and entertaining: a joyous finale to Pinchgut's anniversary season.