Major Programme of Special Events in 2009 Marking the 250th Anniversary of the Death of Handel

To mark the 250th anniversary of the death of George Frideric Handel, a programme of events, including BBC broadcasts, new music commissions, concerts, performances of rarely-heard works and a new exhibition will take place in 2009. At the heart of the commemorative events will be Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, Handel’s home for thirty-six years and the place where he died on 14 April 1759.

Among the confirmed events for 2009:

JANUARY - DECEMBER:  The Complete Operas - weekly Radio 3 broadcasts

BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the complete repertoire of Handel's forty-plus operas, with one opera aired each Tuesday (except during the Proms).

12 JANUARY  

BBC Radio 3 - Handel is the featured Composer of the Week.  From Monday 12 January, BBC Radio 3 broadcasts a chronological survey of Handel's life and work.

FROM 23 FEBRUARY-DECEMBER

Handel's Cantatas and Keyboard Suites 

A significant series of performances of all of Handel's Keyboard Suites and Cantatas, many of which are rarely performed.  The series is a partnership between Handel House Museum, the London Handel Society and the British Harpsichord Society. Beginning as the London Handel Festival opens on 23 February, performances will continue throughout the Festival and then until the end of 2009. There will be twelve lunchtime concerts at St. George's Church in Hanover Square and four evening concerts at Handel House as part of the Festival, after which the series continues at Handel House. The series is co-ordinated by harpsichordist and early music specialist, Julian Perkins.

1 MARCH

25 Brook Street  (part of the London Handel Festival)

The world premiere of a new oratorio 25 Brook Street, composed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Handel's death and commissioned by Handel House Museum. Handel, now half blind, is in conversation with his younger self as scenes from his past come back to haunt him during the writing of his final oratorio, Jephtha. Composed by Mark Bowden, Larry Goves, Chris Mayo and Charlie Piper with libretto by Helen Cooper, 25 Brook Street will be performed by the London Handel Singers with soloists, the London Handel Orchestra and conducted by Laurence Cummings. The concert will take place at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, where Handel used to worship when he lived at Brook Street.

8 APRIL-25 OCTOBER

Handel Reveal'd
A new exhibition at Handel House Museum, will investigate many aspects of Handel's life, drawing on objects from the Museum's own collection and significant loans from national museums and private collections. Aside from his music and career, the exhibition will cover such subjects as Handel's social life in London, his money, patrons, business practices, health and his notorious love of food.

12 APRIL-18 APRIL   BBC Radio 3's Handel Week

Daily highlights include:

  • Sunday 12 April - BBC Radio 3 - Early Music Show   Laurence Cummings will explore Handel's Eight Great Suites, each of which will be recorded in Handel House for broadcast during the week of programmes

  • Monday 13 April

    • BBC Radio 3 - 12 noon. The first of five Composer of the Week programmes, focusing on Handel and the Oratorio

    • BBC Radio 3  - 7pm. First of a series of five Performance on 3 concerts of Handel's music

  • Tuesday 14 April - Messiah, BBC Westminster Abbey Concert  A live BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Messiah from Westminster Abbey. The concert is also broadcast throughout Europe via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

  • Wednesday 15 April - BBC Radio 3 - Interval feature from Handel House Museum

  • Thursday 16 April - BBC Radio 3 - 10am. An exploration of historical Handel on record, as part of Classical Collection

  • Friday 17 April - BBC Radio 3 -  11pm. Aspects of Handel's life considered in The Essay series

  •  Saturday 18 April - BBC Radio 3 - 9.30am. CD Review programme: Building a Library of the best recordings of Messiah

14 APRIL- Handel House Free Admission Day

Handel died early on the morning of 14 April 1759 in his bedroom at 25 Brook Street. To mark this occasion, Handel House will be free to visitors all day, with live music throughout the day.

19 APRIL- Pan-European Handel radio day 

BBC Radio 3 live broadcast from Handel House. As part of a European Broadcasting Union radio day, a celebration of Handel's musical world as reflected in the domestic music making of his day

CD Release - BBC Recording of Handel's Keyboard Suites

BBC Radio 3 will record Handel's keyboard suites, performed by Laurence Cummings, in Handel's own music room at Handel House Museum for CD release in 2009.The recordings will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 during the week of 13 April.

Handel Concerts Database

Handel House Museum will provide a one-stop portal for Handel performances in 2009, illustrating how everyone, from small local music societies to the large established organisations in the UK and overseas are celebrating Handel's music in the anniversary year. For details about how to submit Handel concert information, visit the Handel House website or call Handel House on 020 7399 1953. The database will be launched in December 2008 and will be found at www.handelhouse.org.
 

Martin Wyatt, Deputy Director of Handel House Museum, said  "2009 will be a special year for admirers of Handel with performances of his music throughout the world, including some events in buildings and venues which Handel would have  known well. The Museum is delighted to be co-ordinating a database of events, so that people in all areas of the UK will be able to find a Handel performance that appeals to them."


ENDS

Issued by The Press Office. For further information or pictures, please contact Michael Barrett or Kirsten Canning on 020 8295 2424, 07813-558772 or email mb@thepressoffice.uk.com

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