大象传媒

Kate Molleson follows Handel on a performance-packed sojourn in the city of dreaming spires.

When he arrived in London in 1712, German-born George Frideric Handel was already one of Europe鈥檚 most exciting musical minds. Over the next decades he would not only carve a living for himself, but transform British musical life, from the opera stage to the choir stalls, and hardwire his legacy into our culture. All this week, Kate Molleson tells the stories of five summer soirees from across his life in the British Isles 鈥� golden evenings of 18th-century music making, and some of his most eventful performances.

Today, Handel-mania hits Oxford, as the composer is summoned to provide a week of musical entertainments at the university. Though not everyone is pleased about the invasion of 鈥渇oreign fiddlers鈥�, his brand new oratorio Athalia turns the Sheldonian Theatre into something of a Georgian mosh pit.

Athalia: Overture
Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Esther, Act I, Scene 4: Tune your harps to cheerful strains; Praise the Lord
Mark Padmore, tenor (First Israelite)
Nancy Argenta, soprano (Israelite Woman)
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers, conductor

Organ Concerto in B-flat major, Op 4 No 2
Richard Egarr, organ and director
Academy of Ancient Music

Jubilate Deo in D major 鈥楿trecht鈥�, HWV279
Nicki Kennedy (soprano)
Julian Podger (tenor)
William Towers (bass)
Wolfram Lattke (tenor)
Netherlands Bach Society
Jos van Veldhoven, conductor

Athalia, Act II Scene 2: My vengeance awakes me
Joan Sutherland, soprano
Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for 大象传媒 Wales and West