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Not to be confused with Idomeneo.

George Frideric Handel

Imeneo (alternative title: Hymen, HWV 41) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Silvio Stampiglia‘s Imeneo. Handel had begun composition in September 1738, but did not complete the score until 1740.

Performance history

The opera received its first performance at the Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London on 22 November 1740, with a second performance on 13 December. After revisions to the score, concert performances were held in Dublin, on 24 and 31 March 1742.[1] Charles Jennens, who created the libretti for both Saul and Messiah, described Imeneo as “the worst of all Handel’s Compositions”, but added “yet half the Songs are good”.[2] The work was not considered a success, and was not revived until 1960.[3]

The first modern production was at the Halle Opera House on 13 March 1960, conducted by Horst-Tanu Margraf. The work was soon after performed in Birmingham in 1961, under the direction of Anthony Lewis.[4] Lewis also led the first London revival of the opera since Handel’s time, in 1972 at the Royal Academy of Music.[5] Lewis has prepared a performing edition of the opera.[6]

Cambridge Handel Opera Company under the direction of Julian Perkins performed the opera at the former Festival Theatre in Cambridge in March 2026.[7]

Roles

Élisabeth Duparc, who created the role of Rosmene
Roles, voice types, and premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere Cast, 22 November 1740
Imeneo bass William Savage
Tirinto mezzo-soprano castrato Giovanni Battista Andreoni
Rosmene soprano Elisabeth Duparc (“La Francesina“)
Clomiri soprano Miss Edwards
Argenio bass Henry Theodore Reinhold

Synopsis

Interior of the Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre, where Imeneo had its first performance

The opera’s setting is “A Pleasant Garden” in Athens. While making their offerings to Ceres, goddess of fertility, the maidens of Athens have been set upon and abducted by pirates. Tirinto laments his lost love, Rosmene, while Argenio, an Anthenian Senator, grieves for his daughter Clomiri, a friend of Rosmene.

Imeneo appears and announces that he has freed all the captives. In order to get close to his love Rosmene, he had been part of the maiden group making offerings, disguised in women’s clothes, and had been swept up in the abductions. He boasts that while the pirates slept, he took the opportunity to kill them all.

There is general rejoicing, and when Imeneo demands to marry Rosmene in recognition of his great deed, Argenio and his fellow senators agree, telling Rosmene that it is her duty to accept Imeneo. Argenio attempts to persuade her of the power of gratitude by telling her the fable of Androcles and the Lion, in which the lion gratefully kisses Androcles rather than killing him, recognising him as the man who had once removed a thorn from his paw. Rosmene, however, loves Tirinto, and is conflicted between faithfulness to him and duty and gratitude toward Imeneo. Clomiri has feelings for Imeneo, and flirts with him, suggesting that he should transfer his affections to someone who already deeply loves him. But he is resolute and pretends not to understand Clomiri’s advances.

Knowing that she must disappoint one of her suitors, Rosmene settles on a device for seemingly delegating the decision to a higher power. Feigning madness, she enacts a vision of Radamanto, one of the judges of the dead in the underworld, who cuts out her heart with his sword. Her heart will choose for her, after hearing from both suitors. She ‘faints’, and on coming round declares for Imeneo. The chorus sings of the need to bow down not to passion, but to reason; one should not follow feelings and fidelity, but gratitude and honour.

Recordings

Imeneo discography
Year Cast:
Tirinto, Imeneo, Rosmene,
Clomiri, Argenio 		Conductor,
Orchestra
 Label
1986 D’Anna Fortunato,
John Ostendorf,
Julianne Baird,
Beverly Hoch,
Jan Opalach 		Rudolph Palmer,
Brewer Chamber Orchestra 		CD: Vox Records
Cat: CDX5135
2004 Ann Hallenberg,
Kay Stiefermann,
Johanna Stojkovic,
Siri Thornhill,
Locky Chung 		Andreas Spering,
Capella Augustina 		CD: CPO Records
Cat: 9999152
2016 Ann Hallenberg,
Magnus Staveland,
Monica Piccinini,
Cristiana Arcari,
Fabrizio Beggi 		Fabio Biondi,
Europa Galante 		CD: Glossa Records
Cat: GCD923405[8]

References

Notes
  1. ^ Jones, Andrew V., “Handling Sources” (review of Handel’s ‘Imeneo’: A Pre-Edition Study by Cecil Hill) (August 1989). The Musical Times, 130 (1758): pp. 477-478.
  2. ^ Richard Wigmore (29 May 2013). “Academy of Ancient Music, Wednesday 29 May 2013, 7.30pm, Hall” (PDF). AAM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  3. ^ Warrack, John Hamilton; West, Ewan (1992). The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 345. ISBN 978-0-19-869164-8.
  4. ^ Dean, Winton, “From the Provinces: Birmingham. i: Handel’s Imeneo” (1961). The Musical Times, 102 (1419): p. 303.
  5. ^ Hicks, Anthony, “Music in London: Imeneo” (August 1972). The Musical Times, 113 (1554): pp. 786-791.
  6. ^ Gudger, William D., Review of edition of George Frideric Handel: Imeneo (Hymenaeus); An Opera (prepared by Anthony Lewis) (1981). MLA Notes (2nd Ser.), 39 (2): p. 466.
  7. ^ “Upcoming events : Handel Imeneo 1740”. Cambridge Handel Opera Company. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  8. ^ “Classical recordings – Imeneo Handel”. Presto Classical. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
Sources
  • Dean, Winton (2006), Handel’s Operas, 1726-1741, Boydell Press, ISBN 1-84383-268-2 The second of the two volume definitive reference on the operas of Handel
  • Imeneo by Anthony Hicks, in ‘The New Grove Dictionary of Opera‘, ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
  • Handel’s ‘Imeneo’ From Glimmerglass Opera [1]