The premiere of Ottone, an opera by George Frideric Handel, took place on January 12, 1723, at the King's Theatre in London's Haymarket. Handel had completed the work in August 1722. For this season, the composer had assembled a group of operatic stars, which led to some tension. The Royal Academy of Music in London succeeded in engaging renowned Italian performers, including the soprano Margherita Durastanti, the famous alto castrato Senesino, and the bass Giuseppe Boschi.
The libretto for Ottone was written by Nicola Francesco Haym, who adapted a text from 1719. It fictionalizes the events surrounding the marriage of Otto II to the Byzantine princess Theophanu—a political connection that led to the formation of an alliance between the Byzantine and Holy Roman Empires. Initially, there were disagreements regarding the casting, particularly with Madame Robinson, who also pursued diplomatic avenues to improve her role.
Despite initial difficulties, Ottone became an enormous success and, with 34 performances during Handel's lifetime, is among his most popular stage works. The financial gains enabled the composer to move to Brook Street the following year, where he would live until his death.
The instrumentation of Ottone was comparatively restrained compared to Handel's later compositions, allowing him to focus on melodic elegance. The performance aroused great enthusiasm from the audience, whose excitement was even expressed in shouts during the performance.
This opera, based on historical events, unfolds over three acts a web of intrigue and emotional moments. After dramatic twists and turns, love ultimately triumphs over betrayal, and peace returns in the final duet.