Lufthansa Festival

The Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music is almost upon us, it runs from 18 May to 26 May. As ever, the programme is full of all sorts of goodies. La Serenissma's production of L'Olympiade makes an appearance (see yesterday's post on the Buxton Festival) and the opening event is a concert by the Catalan maestro, Jordi Savall and his ensemble le Concert des Nations with a truly multinational programme; lovely to see Charles Avison rubbing shoulders with Lully, Corelli and Biber.

The Festival finale is particular interest as it is themed around Handel's two rival divas, Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni. Rosemary Joshua and Mhairi Lawson do the honours with Christian Curnyn and his Early Opera Company.

Most of the festival events are at St. Johns Smith Square, but there is a concert at Westminster Abbey featuring Sophie Daneman singing Handel's Silete Venti, with the choir of Westminster Abbey conducted by James O'Donnell performing Handel's Ode for St. Cecilias Day and Bach's motet Singet dem Herrn.

Other delights include the Dunedin Consort and Players in an all Bach programme, a late night concert of duets which includes music by one of my favourites, Barbara Strozzi, Kimberly Marshall plays the Klais organ in St. Johns and Andrew Manze gives a lecture on historically informed performance.

Further information at the festival website.