Polifemo

The legends surrounding the cyclops Polyphemus, his unhappy love for Galatheia and his battle with Odysseus, are a popular theme in the world of opera. "Polifemo" was the last work composed by Nicola Antonio Porpora for the Opera of Nobility in London, an enterprise which stood in direct competition to George Frideric Handel's opera house. In the competitive battle to secure the largest audience, Porpora relied greatly on Farinelli's vocal abilities. This is especially true for "Polifemo". The extremely virtuosic music places the highest demands on all participants.