Il Trionfo

The title "legend" is no exaggeration in his case: René Jacobs. Few conductors on the early music scene have exerted such a profound influence on the interpretation of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century repertoire as this distinguished Belgian. Under his artistic direction, the Innsbrucker Festwochen blossomed into an event of international renown. Over the past forty years — and through countless award-winning recordings — he has shown a particular affinity for Monteverdi, Mozart and, above all, the vocal works of Georg Friedrich Händel.

For the 2026 Festwochen anniversary, Jacobs has chosen Händel’s first oratorio, "La Bellezza ravveduta nel Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno", to be performed with the Freiburger Barockorchester and an exceptional cast of soloists. The work unites operatic drama with virtuosic brilliance and moments of deep emotional tenderness.

This masterpiece by the "caro Sassone", as Händel’s Italian contemporaries affectionately called him, explores the allegorical confrontation between vanity and transience. When Bellezza (Beauty) yields to the temptations of Piacere (Pleasure), she is ultimately guided by Tempo (Time) and Disinganno (Disillusionment or Enlightenment) toward self-knowledge. Ingeniously constructed and subtly characterised, the oratorio reveals Händel’s unmistakable flair as a dramatist. Among its many treasures are some of his most unforgettable melodies — none more so than the timeless aria "Lascia la spina".