 Rinaldo ( HWV 7 ) is an opera by George Frideric Handel , composed in 1711 , and was the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage . The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill , and the work was first performed at the Queen 's Theatre in London 's Haymarket on 24 February 1711 . The opera was a success and was revived in 1720 and 1721. kwietniu 1720 roku , the Queen's Theatre burned down and the opera was not revived until 1721, when it was performed in