What is Alcina?
{{Infobox opera | name = Alcina | translated_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Haendel.jpg | image_size = 220px | alt = | caption = Handel in 1733 | genre = [[Opera seria]] | other_name = | composer = [[George Frideric Handel]] | librettist = Riccardo Broschi | language = Italian | based_on = | premiere_date = | premiere_location = [[Covent Garden]]<br />[[London, England]]<br />16 April 1735 | other = | website = }} '''''Alcina''''' is an [[opera seria]] with music by [[George Frideric Handel]]. The [[libretto]] was written by [[Riccardo Broschi]]. The opera is based on an episode in [[Ludovico Ariosto]]'s ''[[Orlando furioso]]'', an epic [[poem]] set in the time of [[Charlemagne]]'s [[war]]s against [[Islam]]. Handel composed several little [[ballet]]s in the opera for the famous dancer [[Marie Sallé]]. ''Alcina'' was first performed on 16 April 1735 at [[Covent Garden]] in [[London]]. It was [[revival|revived]] in [[Germany]] in 1738. It was not performed again until 1928. [[Joan Sutherland]] sang the role for her [[debut]] in [[Venice]] in 1960. She sang it again the same year in [[Dallas]]. She sang it at the [[Royal Opera House]], Covent Garden, in 1962. [[Renée Fleming]] sang the role in [[Chicago]] in 1999. == Roles == * Alcina, a [[sorceress]] - [[soprano]] * Morgana, her sister - soprano * Oberto, a boy searching for his father - [[boy soprano]] * Ruggiero, a [[knight]] and Bradamente's fiancé - [[mezzo-soprano]] [[castrato]] * Bradamante, Ruggiero's fiancée - mezzo-soprano * Oronte, Morgana's lover - [[tenor]] * Melisso, Ruggiero's former [[tutor]] - [[bass (vocal range)|bass]] == Story == Alcina is a sorceress. She changes people into stones, trees, and animals. Bradamente lands on Alcina's [[island]] looking for her fiancé Ruggiero. He has been enchanted by Alcina. He is in love with her. Bradamente has a magic ring that a