George Frideric Handel’s Acis and Galatea is one of the most lyrical and beloved works of Baroque music. Having been variously described as a serenata, a masque, a pastoral opera or "little opera" (in a letter by the composer while it was being written), it is a transition between Italian opera and English oratorio. The mythological tale tells the idyllic love story of the nymph Galatea (lit. she who is milk-white) and the shepherd Acis. Their harmony is shattered by the jealousy and rage of the one-eyed giant Polypheme, who, upon discovering the couple, hurls a massive rock torn from Mount Etna at Acis. Galatea transforms the blood of her slain lover, seeping from beneath the stone, into a gently flowing stream – a mythical origin of the river Aci in Sicily.
The music flows between playful lightness and heart-wrenching drama: Handel brings the characters’ emotions – joy, desire, fear, and grief – to life with unparalleled sensitivity, seamlessly weaving together images of nature and the inner world of the characters in the musical texture. Composed in 1718, Acis and Galatea became one of Handel’s most successful English-language works. Its melodical freshness, rich contrapuntal writing, finely drawn musical character portraits, and subtly layered emotional depth continue to captivate audiences to this day. Acis and Galatea is not only a musical masterpiece but also a deeply human story of love, loss, and nature’s eternal cycle. It offers a rewarding experience not only for fans of Baroque music but for anyone who appreciates emotionally rich yet accessible storytelling on stage.

This production is staged by KúlArt Produkció.