30th London Handel Festival

The brochure for the 30th London Handel Festival has dropped through my letter box and we have sent off our application for tickets. As ever, the selection of works is mouthwatering.

The main oratorio performance is Solomon with a cast including Iestyn Davies. And the opera performances this year are of Poro in a production which is co-produced with the Benjamin Britten International Opera School and directed by Christopher Cowell.

There are an attractive selection of lunchtime concerts, the annual St. Matthew Passion performance on Good Fridy and of course the Handel Singing Competition. This year, at one of the lunchtime concerts Paul Ayres will be giving a programme of Handel's organ music together with news works for chamber organ inspired by Handel's music. The new works will chosen from those submitted to a Handel-inspired composition competition.

Most of the concerts take place at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, though Adrian Butterfield is giving a concert of English violin sonatas at the Foundling Museum. The advantage of St. George's Church is that it was Handel's parish church. This disadvantage is that sight lines are mixed and the comfort poor, the seats become very hard after 3 hours of Handel oratorio!

Full detail's at the Festival's website.

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