The New York staging is the first ever of Handel's original version, which the composer revised before its premiere to accommodate changes in the cast.

The production, accompanied by a 23-piece period orchestra, is conducted by Neal Goren, the artistic director of Gotham Chamber Opera, and directed by Christopher Alden, whose recent production include Turandot at Welsh National Opera and The Mother of Us All at San Francisco Opera. The cast includes Caroline Worra as Arianna, Hanan Alattar as Alceste, Katherine Rohrer as Theseus, Jennifer Hines as Carilda, Alan Dornak as Tauride, Kevin Burdette as Minos, and Daniel Gross as Il Sonno.

"Although [Arianna in Creta] is one of Handel's finest London operas, it appears to have never received a staging in the U. S.," Goren said in a statement. "The only theory I can proffer for its neglect is the sheer vocal difficulty of the principal roles."

The Gotham Chamber Opera, formerly known as the Henry Street Chamber Opera, also staged the American premiere of Mozart's early Il Sogno de Scipione.

Arianna in Creta runs February 10-18 at the Harry de Jur Playhouse on Manhattan's Lower East Side.