On behalf of the entire team at the London Handel Festival, it gives us great pleasure to introduce you to the 2025 Festival: Fantasy, Myth and Legend.
It is almost 50 years since the Festival was founded by Denys Darlow and now, more than ever, we remain dedicated to celebrating the musical legacy of this great composer through world-class performances and events.
The 2025 Festival continues this important work and, as we build to our 50th anniversary in 2026, we are proud to present one of our most artistically ambitious yet. Notable highlights across the 2025 Festival include a return performance by violinist and director Bjarte Eike; concerts with much-loved ensembles including the OAE, Academy of Ancient Music, and Early Opera Company; and a debut performance by the Irish Baroque Orchestra. I am particularly delighted that five previous winners of the International Handel Singing Competition will join us as soloists across the Festival, a sign of the continued importance and impact of this prestigious competition.
2025 will be a hugely significant year for the London Handel Festival as we begin our new musical collaboration with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen. We are all looking forward to welcoming them to the London Handel Festival family. Together, they will take their first residency at the Festival and make their debut performances in their new roles as Principal Ensemble in Residence and Artistic Adviser.
Our much-treasured London Handel Orchestra also enters a new chapter in its history with its first performances under the direction of its new Principal Conductor, Richard Gowers.
It is without doubt that Handel is one of the greatest musical storytellers history has ever seen. Our 2025 programme showcases performances of some of his works that explore stories of fantasy, myth, and legend. This theme is central to the Handel Opera Studio’s 2025 production Tales of Apollo and Hercules. Building on the successes of Aci by the River (2024) and In the Realms of Sorrow (2023), we continue our commitment to presenting innovative new productions of Handel’s lesser-known dramatic works. Tales of Apollo and Hercules is an original double bill that weaves together Handel’s early cantata Apollo e Dafne with his later one-act oratorio The Choice of Hercules, both pieces exploring mythical themes of choice, love, and fate. We are particularly thrilled to be collaborating with New English Ballet Theatre and La Nuova Musica on this brand new production. Be sure to book early as the show is likely to sell out.
As always, audiences have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Handel’s world beyond our concert programme. Throughout the Festival there are a number of ways to get involved, including open rehearsals, singing workshops, talks, and walks – all designed to bring our audiences closer to the music and our musicians.
It is Handel’s incredible ability to capture the human spirit, to tell timeless stories, and to connect to our emotional core, that we want our audiences to experience at the Festival. Our 2025 programme enables you, our audience, to delve deeper into the treasure trove of Handel’s music, experience his genius, and have your life enriched by his music.
Gregory Batsleer
Festival Director
Booking dates
Major Donors & Director’s Circle: 7 November
Gold Patrons: 8 November
Patrons’ Circle: 11 November
Benefactors: 13 November
Associate Benefactors: 15 November
Friends: 18 November
General Booking: 20 November
Events
Click here to discover the full event listings
| Opening Concert: L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato HWV 55 – 7th March
| “Chamber Delights” with Arcangelo New Ensemblists – 11th March
| Celebrity Recital: Arcangelo and Emőke Baráth – 14th March
| Irish Baroque Orchestra: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno HWV 46a – 19th March
| Arias Reimagined with nonclassical – 20th March (on sale January 2025)
| St George’s: A Tercentenary Celebration – 22nd March
| Tales of Apollo and Hercules – 27th, 28th, 29th March
| International Handel Singing Competition Final – 2nd April
| Bjarte Eike, the OAE and principal members of Barokksolistene – 5th April
| Handel Supper Club – 8th April
| Closing Concert: Floridante HWV 14 – 10th April
| St Matthew Passion – 18th April
Other
Lunchtime at the Charterhouse
| Charlotte Spruit Plays Handel – 18th March
| Steven Devine Plays Handel – 25th March
| Garden Folk: The Vauxhall Band – 1st April
Stars of the Future at Handel Hendrix House
| Students from the Royal Academy of Music – 10th March
| Students from the Royal College of Music – 17th March
| Finalists of the International Handel Singing Competition 2024 – 7th April
Get Involved!
Full details to be announced in January 2025. Events will include:
| Come and Sing!
| Come and Play!
| Talks and Discussions
| Open Rehearsals
| Festival Walks
Ticket bundles
The following ticket bundles are available to book, offering a discount when booking multiple events.
To book, please contact boxoffice@londonhandelfestival.org.uk
Full Festival Ticket (excluding Handel Supper Club and St Matthew Passion) – £675
Live From St George’s, Hanover Square (Top-tier seats for all events at SGHS) – £375
Tickets for all three Lunchtime at The Charterhouse Series – £45
Student tickets
£15 top-tier seats are available to all our evening events. Tickets are subject to availability and can be purchased on the door or reserved in advance by emailing boxoffice@londonhandelfestival.org.uk
New to LHF?
Never been to a London Handel Festival concert? Throughout the Festival we offer a handful of top-tier tickets for £10 to first time attendees. This offer is subject to availability and only available on select concerts.
For more information contact boxoffice@londonhandelfestival.org.uk