Il Giasone is an opera by by Francesco Cavalli loosely based on the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece, and became wildly popular in the mid-17th century after it was premiered during the Carvival of Venice in 1649.
Its often comical elements revolve around the meddling of the gods in Giasone/Jason's love-life, and how his earthly passions for the two Queens in his life Medea and Isifile (and their plotting against each other) drive him almost over the edge. In Baroque style, of course.
It is not often in an opera that one gets to hear an aria about sex and masturbation, but, as this marvellously homoerotic performance from the Vlaamse Opera of Belgium proves, (once more) in the words of Miss Anna Russell - "that’s the beauty of Grand Opera, you can do anything so long as you sing it!"
Read more about Il Giasone on Classical Net.
[Eternal thanks to Madam Acarti for finding this particular clip.]
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