Handel - Flavio

Flavio, re di Longobardi (Flavio, King of the Lombards) is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Matteo Noris's Il Flavio Cuniberto. It was Handel's fourth opera for the Royal Academy of Music. Handel had originally entitled the opera after the character of Emilia in the opera. Handel completed the score only 7 days before the premiere, at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, London on 14 May 1723. There were 8 performances in the premiere run. The work was revived on 18 April 1732, under the direction of the composer, for 4 performances. There were no further revivals until it was rediscovered and performed in Göttingen in 1967. The first UK performance since Handel's time was in August 1969 at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon.