Partenope Venice Tickets 2027

Why see Partenope at Teatro Malibran

George Frideric Handel’s Partenope (1730) is one of the composer’s most delightful and subtly comic operas, a Baroque jewel that turns the conventions of heroic opera on their head. Its title character is Partenope, the legendary founding queen of Naples — in myth a siren whose name the ancient city once bore. Around her court swirls a witty web of rival suitors and romantic intrigue, most memorably the disguised Rosmira, who dons men’s armour to pursue the lover who abandoned her, exposing the vanity of the men around her with sly, knowing charm.

Handel’s score is a showcase of Baroque vocal splendour, moving from radiant love songs to blazing coloratura arias built for virtuoso display, all set against the bright, buoyant colours of his Baroque orchestration. The Teatro Malibran — a historic Venetian theatre near the Rialto and the second home of La Fenice — makes an especially fitting setting, its intimate scale suited to the elegance and intricacy of Handel’s writing.

Teatro Malibran

Partenope Venice — Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does Partenope take place? Performances are held at the Teatro Malibran in Venice, a historic theatre near the Rialto that serves as La Fenice’s second stage. Compare the dates above to find the performance that suits you.

What can I expect, and what language is it sung in? Partenope is a Baroque opera with a comic streak, sung in Italian across three acts. Expect elaborate solo arias and elegant staging; surtitles are generally provided in Italian theatres to help you follow the plot.

How do I get to the Teatro Malibran? Venice is entirely car-free, so you travel on foot or by vaporetto (water bus). The theatre is tucked into the lanes near the Rialto, a short walk from the Rialto vaporetto stop.

Partenope at Teatro Malibran Tickets 2027

Buy Partenope tickets at Teatro Malibran and discover one of George Frideric Handel’s most entertaining operas during its first production in Venice.

Five performances are scheduled from September 2 to 12, 2027. Giulio Prandi conducts the La Fenice Orchestra and Choir in a new staging directed by Jacopo Spirei, with sets by Mauro Tinti, costumes by Giada Masi and lighting by Giuseppe Di Iorio.

Combining elegant Baroque music, romantic rivalry and playful humour, Partenope offers a different experience from the tragic operas more commonly associated with the Italian stage. Choose your preferred performance and secure your Partenope Venice tickets before the most desirable seating areas become limited.

Handel’s Partenope makes its Venice debut

The 2027 performances mark the first time Partenope has been presented as part of the La Fenice season in Venice.

Although it retains the musical structure of eighteenth-century opera seria, the work frequently plays with the conventions of that genre. Its characters become caught in a sophisticated game of attraction, jealousy, deception and romantic competition, creating an opera that is both musically refined and unexpectedly humorous.

This rare Venice premiere makes Partenope particularly attractive to Baroque opera enthusiasts and visitors looking beyond familiar titles by Verdi, Puccini and Rossini.

The story of Partenope

Partenope is the powerful and admired Queen of Naples. Several men compete for her affection, each approaching love, loyalty and rivalry in a different way.

Prince Arsace appears to be Partenope’s preferred suitor, but his past returns when his former lover Rosmira arrives in Naples disguised as a man named Eurimene. Determined to expose his betrayal without revealing her identity, Rosmira becomes both his rival and his accuser.

Armindo quietly loves Partenope but struggles to express his feelings, while Emilio, Prince of Cuma, arrives as a military opponent and another potential admirer. Their competing ambitions create battles fought through courtship, disguise, wounded pride and comic misunderstanding.

Unlike many traditional operas about royal conflict, Partenope places romantic manoeuvring at the centre of the action. The result is a witty exploration of love in which appearances can be deceptive and the supposedly heroic men are frequently less composed than the women around them.

A brilliant Baroque opera by Handel

Partenope is an opera in three acts with music by George Frideric Handel and an Italian libretto by Silvio Stampiglia.

The Royal Academy of Music initially rejected the libretto in 1726, but Handel later returned to it and completed the score shortly before the work’s premiere at London’s King’s Theatre on February 24, 1730.

The opera combines expressive arias with rapid changes of mood. Moments of genuine emotion sit alongside irony and theatrical comedy, while each principal character receives music designed to reveal their changing romantic position.

The score eventually disappeared from the regular repertoire but was rediscovered during the modern revival of Baroque opera in the late twentieth century. It is now appreciated as one of Handel’s most original and theatrically inventive works.

A new La Fenice production

The Venice performances present a completely new staging created by Fondazione Teatro La Fenice.

The creative team includes:

Conductor: Giulio Prandi
Director: Jacopo Spirei
Sets: Mauro Tinti
Costumes: Giada Masi
Lighting: Giuseppe Di Iorio
Orchestra and Choir: Teatro La Fenice

Jacopo Spirei directs a work in which disguise and shifting relationships are central to the drama. The production will need to balance the formal elegance of Handel’s royal court with the irony and romantic confusion that distinguish Partenope from more conventional opera seria.

Giulio Prandi leads the musical performance, shaping Handel’s vocal writing and the energetic contrasts between intimate arias, confrontations and ensemble scenes.

Partenope cast at Teatro Malibran

The first confirmed member of the cast is:

Emilio, Prince of Cuma: Leonardo Cortellazzi

The remaining principal roles, including Partenope, Arsace, Rosmira and Armindo, will be announced closer to the performances.

Casting is particularly important in Handel’s operas because the story unfolds largely through demanding solo arias. Each singer must combine vocal agility with detailed acting to communicate the changing alliances and hidden intentions between the characters.

Opera at Teatro Malibran

Partenope forms part of the Teatro La Fenice 2026/27 season, but the performances will take place at Teatro Malibran, not at the main La Fenice Opera House.

The historic Malibran auditorium provides an intimate setting well suited to Baroque opera. Its closer relationship between stage and audience allows spectators to follow the characters’ facial expressions, disguises and comic interactions in greater detail.

Visitors should check the venue carefully when organising their journey, as Teatro Malibran and Teatro La Fenice are separate locations in Venice.

Choosing your Partenope performance

The production opens on Thursday, September 2 at 7:00 PM. Further evening performances take place on September 7 and 9.

The performances on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 12 begin at 5:00 PM, offering earlier options for visitors who prefer to keep the rest of the evening available.

All five dates present the same new La Fenice production. Booking in advance provides a wider choice of seats, including central positions within the theatre.

Buy Partenope tickets

Book your Partenope at Teatro Malibran tickets and attend Handel’s witty Baroque opera during its long-awaited Venice debut.

Select your preferred performance date and seating category before completing your reservation. With only five performances scheduled, availability in the strongest sections may become limited as the opening date approaches.

Secure your Partenope tickets and experience Handel’s sophisticated combination of romance, rivalry and comedy live in Venice in September 2027.