Handel conquers America

Is Baroque opera finally out of the ghetto of early music specialists? The proliferation of Handel’s works in the major American opera houses (the Metropolitan, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco) suggest that the United States is gradually following a trend by now established overseas. Step by step, Baroque opera is becoming liberated from esoteric festivals targeted at small groups of devotees, and performed by ensembles of specialists entertained by first-rank performers. Rather it is entering the repertory of major venues, attended by thousands of spectators. Of course, this may appear an oversimplification. Especially on the western side of the Atlantic, where the box office still rules over the boldness of artistic directors lacking state subsidies, opera houses still regard Baroque opera as a risky…