During the concert featuring singers and Wrocław Baroque Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Bayl, we will hear Griselda – an opera in a concert version – by Giovanni Bononcini – an Italian composer of the Baroque era.

Bononcini was not only a recognized Baroque composer, but also a cellist, singer and teacher. The skills acquired in each of these areas influenced his work, which was often compared to the legacy of George Frideric Handel working in London. Moreover, certain threads linking the two artists can be found: Handel adapted Bononcini's opera Serse, and the Bononcini’s Astarto, written a bit earlier, completely overshadowed Handel’s operas composed in 18th-century England.

Griselda is, in fact, dramma per musica in three acts, to a libretto by Apostolo Zeno based on Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. Its premiere took place at London’s King's Theatre in 1722 and was received with genuine enthusiasm. The story of Griselda is one of the most intriguing female characters in ancient literature. The musical layer is full of deep, spontaneous melodies reflecting the experiences of the characters. The most popular fragment is the aria by Ernesto – Almirena's lover, and Almirena was the daughter of the eponymous Griselda and King Gualtiero – Per la gloria d'adorarvi. Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti often sang it during their performances on the world’s stages.