Everyone is hungry for power, but not all are worthy.

The coronation that goes wrong… When Agrippina hears of the death of her husband Claudio by shipwreck, she seizes the opportunity to place her son Nerone in power. After gaining the support of the toadying Narciso and Pallante, she is upset to find Claudio has been saved by the gallant Ottone, whom Claudio has rewarded with a promise of the crown. But Claudio, Nerone and Ottone are all obsessed with the cunning Poppea. As they pursue her, and Agrippina tries to steer Nerone back into the line of succession, we’re left to wonder whether any of these people should really be in charge.

Ashley Pearson’s staging of Handel’s satirical opera is performed by HGO’s brilliant cast of young singers, tomorrow’s opera stars, accompanied by the HGOAntiqua Orchestra of period instruments, including theorbo. The performance will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Performances on 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 May at 7pm, on 14 & 21 May at 4pm.