As the curtain rises on another vibrant season of UK summer opera festivals, Baroque music takes centre stage in all its dramatic, dazzling glory. From Handel and Purcell to Charpentier and Rameau, this year’s productions span the full emotional and stylistic range of the Baroque period. To celebrate, we have curated a playlist that brings together standout arias and orchestral moments from the operas being staged this year, including beloved works like Rodelinda, Semele and Dido & Aeneas, alongside lesser-known jewels such as La descente d'Orphée aux enfers – plus Continuo-supported recording projects: Handel's Amadigi di Gaula, Weldon's The Judgment of Paris, and Lampe's The Dragon of Wantley added into the mix.

Listen below, or on our Spotify Playlist - Baroque Opera

Handel – Overture to Semele

Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Handel – Semele, Act II: ‘Where’er you walk’

Richard Croft | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Rameau – Les Indes galantes, Entrée II: ‘Viens, hymen’

Isabelle Poulenard | Les Arts Florissants | William Christie

Lampe – The Dragon of Wantley, Act I: ‘Fly, neighbours, fly, the Dragon’s nigh’

Mary Bevan | Catherine Carby | Mark Wilde | John Savournin | Brook Street Band | John Andrews

Handel – Rodelinda, Act I: ‘Dove sei, amato bene?’

Iestyn Davies | The English Concert | Harry Bicket

Handel – Overture to Amadigi di Gaula

Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Rameau – Dardanus, Act IV: ‘Monstre affreux, monstre redoutable’

Laurent Naouri | Les Musiciens de Louvre | Marc Minkowski

Handel – Semele, Act III: ‘No, no! I'll take no less’

Rosemary Joshua | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Purcell – Dido and Aeneas: ‘When I am laid in earth’

Fleur Barron | La Nuova Musica | David Bates

Charpentier – Overture to La descente d'Orphée aux enfers

Les Arts Florissants | William Christie

Handel – Flavio, Act I: ‘Amante stravagante’

Rosemary Joshua | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Lampe – The Dragon of Wantley, Act I: The Dragon’s March Crossing the Stage

Brook Street Band | John Andrews

Rameau – Castor et Pollux, Act I: ‘Tristes apprêts pâles flambeaux’

Agnès Mellon | William Christie | Les Arts Florissants

Handel – Acis and Galatea: Sinfonia. Presto

Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Handel – Amadigi, Act II: ‘Pene tiranna io sento al core’

Christian Curnyn | Early Opera Company | Hilary Summers

Handel – Semele, Act II: ‘Oh sleep, why dost thy leave me?’

Rosemary Joshua | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Lampe – The Dragon of Wantley, Act I: ‘Let's go to his Dwelling’

Mary Bevan | Catherine Carby | John Savournin | Brook Street Band | John Andrews

Rameau – Overture to Castor et Pollux

William Christie | Les Arts Florissants

Charpentier – La descente d'Orphée aux enfers, Act II: ‘Je ne viens point ici... Pauvre amant’

Paul Agnew | Monique Zanetti | Les Arts Florissants | William Christie

Handel – Ariodante, Act II: ‘Scherza, infida’

Sarah Connolly | The Symphony of Harmony and Invention | Harry Christophers

Eccles – The Judgment of Paris, Act I: ‘Nature fram’d thee sure for Loving’

Lucy Crowe | Christian Curnyn | Early Opera Company

Weldon – The Judgment of Paris: ‘Nature fram’d thee sure for Loving’

Anna Dennis | Academy of Ancient Music | Julian Perkins

Handel – Partenope, Act I: ‘L’amore ed il destin’

Rosemary Joshua | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

(possibly) Vivaldi – Andromeda liberata (Sereneta Veneziana): ‘Sovvente il sole’

Max Emanuel Cenčic | Venice Baroque Orchestra | Andrea Marcon

Charpentier – La descente d'Orphée aux enfers, Act I: Entrée de nymphes et de bergers désespérés; ‘Lâche amant’

Paul Agnew | Les Arts Florissants | William Christie

Charpentier – La descente d'Orphée aux enfers, Act I: ‘Ne tourne point, mon fils’

Jean-François Gardeil | Les Arts Florissants | William Christie

Handel – Rinaldo, Act I: ‘Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto’

Christopher Purves | Arcangelo | Jonathan Cohen

Handel – Flavio, Act III: ‘Amor, nel mio penar’

Iestyn Davies | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn

Handel – Semele, Act III: ‘Oh happy, happy shall we be’

Rosemary Joshua | Hilary Summers | Brindley Sherratt | Early Opera Company | Christian Curnyn