See 45 performances at Händel Festival Halle6 June – 16 June 2013
The Handel Festival takes place in Halle, the city of Handel’s birth, with internationally acclaimed stars and authentic venues. Running since 1922, it stands for tradition both in the performance and reception of Handel’s works, as well as for innovation and crossover. The main objective of the festival, since 1952, has been to perform the complete works of Handel according to latest research. It consistently offers its international audience new pieces, rediscoveries and a variety of interpretation styles, most of them in historical Handel venues, such as the cathedral, the Marktkirche, Handel House, or the historical Goethe-Theater in nearby Bad Lauchstädt.
The motto bannering this year’s Handel Festival is something of a double entendre: the programme in 2013 will be focusing on “power and music” – music at the service of those in power, but also the power of music itself. It will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Peace of Utrecht for which Handel, commissioned by the English crown, wrote an elaborate Te Deum and Jubilate – proof of how as a composer, Handel also put himself at the service of
political power.
The Handel Festival 2013 once again offers a varied programme featuring top international artists. International stars such as singers Magdalena Kožená and Christine Schäfer, as well as countertenor Franco Fagioli, who will be appearing in gala concerts lend a special aura of prestige to the Handel Festival. Other guest performers include internationally famous ensembles such as Accademia Bizantina, Venice Baroque and La Risonanza from Italy, Il Fondamento from Belgium, Forma Antiqua from Spain, Capriccio stravagante from France, Armonio Atenea from Greece, the Salzburg Bach Choir from Austria, Baroque Brass of London and The King’s Consort from the UK, as well as top Baroque music ensembles from Germany such as Concerto Köln, Lautten Compagney Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor and the NDR Radio Choir.
Since 2010, the festival has included new programme formats aimed at a younger audience. At the Family Festival, a whole Saturday afternoon during the Handel Festival is once again devoted to adults and kids alike. There’s painting, handicrafts, guessing games, baking and all kinds of other activities to do. The climax of the afternoon will be the children’s concert entitled King Thrushbeard, all about King Lion and Princess Kid.
There will also be 2 excursions to nearby cities during the festival.
Excursion 1: Potsdam
Including a tour of Sanssouci Palace and Park, a castle tour by boat and a walk through the Dutch Quarter. Package includes catering. Tickets €77
Excursion 2: Merseburg, “On the Romantic Road”
A tour of the castle Querfurt and Merseburg Cathedral to include the concert “From the omnipotence of Music”. The excursion includes Bad Lauchstädt and lunch at restaurant “Lauchstädter parlors” and a guided tour in the new Schiller House. Tickets €65
For full information, visit the Festival’s website.
