© Chris Christodoulou
Founded in 1976 by Denys Darlow, the London Handel Festival’s purpose is to enrich lives through the greatest performances of Handel’s music.
The London Handel Festival is dedicated to celebrating the life, music, and continued legacy of this great cultural icon. Each year the London Handel Festival presents an array of Handel inspired concerts and events including its critically acclaimed and flagship Spring Festival. From 1999 – 2024 much admired Handelian Laurence Cummings held the post of Musical Director at the Festival.
Predominantly based at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, Handel’s own church in the heart of Mayfair, the Spring Festival features 5 weeks of performances by internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles. Beyond its performances at St George’s Church, the Festival has collaborated with other venues and promoters including the Linbury Theatre at ROH, Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smiths Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Stone Nest, Village Underground and Trinity Buoy Wharf.
Within every Festival the newly created Handel Opera Studio presents bold new stagings of Handel’s lesser known dramatic works. Recent productions include Aci by the River (2024) directed by Jack Furness and In the Realms of Sorrow (2023) directed by Adele Thomas.
Supporting emerging talent is one of the Festivals core values. It regularly works with many of the London’s music colleges including the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music. Regarded by many as the jewel in the crown of the Festival, The International Handel Singing Competition, which was founded by its Musical Director Laurence Cummings in 2002, has been the launchpad for some of the world’s most recognised soloists. Alongside the annual Spring Festival, it presents a number of performances throughout the year including its sell-out performance of Handel’s Messiah.
In 2023 it launched its year round Creative Learning programme which focuses on enriching and inspiring lives through music. Features of the programme include a partnership with Coram, regular youth come and sing events, plus a recently-launched Handel songwriting academy.