Antonio Lucio Vivaldi's 'Gloria' was composed in Venice, probably in 1715, for the choir of the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage for girls (or more probably a home, generously endowed by the girls' "anonymous" fathers, for the illegitimate daughters of Venetian noblemen and their mistresses). The Ospedale prided itself on the quality of its musical education and the excellence of its choir and orchestra. Vivaldi, a priest, music teacher and virtuoso violinist, composed many sacred works for the Ospedale, where he spent most of his career, as well as hundreds of instrumental concertos to be played by the girls’ orchestra. This, his most famous choral piece, presents the traditional Gloria from the Latin Mass in twelve varied cantata-like sections.

Handel's 'Acis and Galatea' represents the pinnacle of Pastoral Opera in England. Premiered in 1718, composed by George Frederic Handel with text from John Gay, it was later rearranged by Mozart in 1788. This is Handel's most popular opera and is his only stage work never to have left the opera repertory.

The first half tells the story of The Fairy Galatea (Izzy Tuffin-Donnevert) and her mortal lover, Acis (Jamie Milburn), their love story; searching for each other, meeting and the declaration of their love for each other. The second act heralds the arrival of the monster Polyphemus (Elliott Titcombe), who is also in love with Galatea and furious that she has chosen another over him. He intends to have her by any means necessary.

Will the lovers prevail? Or will Polyphemus' fury catapult the story into a different direction?