Rousset Conducts Haendel Serse

Xerxes, the Persian king, finds himself torn between duty and desire when he encounters the beautiful Romilda. His brother Arsamenes also loves Romilda, creating a triangle of passion and political consequence. As Xerxes pursues his romantic ambitions with characteristic imperial arrogance, he commands the sea itself to be whipped for its disobedience—a gesture of supreme hubris. The opera weaves together themes of love, power, and the clash between personal desire and royal responsibility. Through a series of intrigues, misunderstandings, and revelations, the characters navigate their conflicting emotions. Ultimately, the work explores how even absolute monarchs remain subject to the forces of love and fate, with resolution arriving through recognition, sacrifice, and the restoration of proper order among the principals.