Haendel Alessandro with Max Emanuel Cencic Opéra Royal de Versailles

Alessandro HWV 21 is an opera composed by George Frideric Handel in 1726 for the Royal Academy of Music Paolo Rollis libretto is based on the story of Ortensio Mauros La superbia dAlessandro This was the first time the famous singers Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni appeared together in one of Handels operas The original cast also included Francesco Bernardi who was known as Senesino The story recounts Alexander the Greats journey to India and depicts him less in a heroic vein than as vainglorious as well as indecisive in matters of the heart The works charm and lightness of touch make it at times almost a comic work3