The history of love and jealousy of the mythological threesome: shepherd Acis, nymph Galatea and Polyphemus was frequently taken up by Baroque composers for the plot of their oratorio and opera works.
Handel approached the theme a few times. The opera in English we will hear at the Philharmonic won the greatest popularity, being the first fully-sized Handelian work setting an English text. Surprisingly, the German coped very well with setting music to the English text. The work has very few recitatives and is actually a sequence of arias.
The performance of the opera, featuring stars: violinist Rachel Podger and cellist Alison McGillivray shall be conducted by Robert Hollingworth, founder of I Fagiolini. The group is the only historical ensemble ever honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Ensemble Award. Besides conducting his own choir in addition to a number of other ensembles, Hollingworth runs his own programmes on BBC Radio 3: ‘The Early Music Show’ and ‘Discovering Music’.
Vivaldi Academy
The Handel Academy
13.02.2015
Fri.
7:00 PM
Philharmonic Hall
Programme:
G.F. Handel Acis and Galatea HWV 49
Performers:
Robert Hollingworth – conductor
Rachel Podger – violin
Alison McGillivray – cello
Marcin Świątkiewicz – basso continuo
Soloists, Festival Orchestra and Choir– workshop participants
Agnieszka Franków-Żelazny – choir master of the Festival Choir