This contrast between this beautifully written, elegantly constructed music and this outrageous storyline is part of what drew me in.

As a fledgling company, we made this choice as a first production one that allowed us to really stay true to the opera and not overwhelm ourselves with managing a very large cast.

There are lots of layers to these characters. Vocally, Handel is at his very finest. You have highly virtuosic coloratura arias that really display both the vocal artistry and the flourish that has become known as characteristic of Handel's writing. In addition to that, there are these beautiful passages, these beautiful arias that are also very legato, long phrases and beautiful (harmonic) progressions that really evoke those deeper levels of emotion that are part of what is being expressed in this story.

We're already getting excited about that. And seeing that it's the Mozart year, it is only fitting.

So in that sense, it's a story that really is vitally linked to a staged situation.