Mr Handel’s Scholars
Soraya Mafi soprano
Fflur Wyn soprano
Katie Bray mezzo-soprano
Ewa Gubanska mezzo-soprano
Laurence Cummings conductor
London Handel Orchestra
Handel was known to encourage young singers, many of whom became his star soloists and were known as ‘Mr Handel’s Scholars’. We continue his great tradition of nurturing young talent through our annual Handel Singing Competition, which is now in its 18th year. This concert is an opportunity to celebrate the success of the competition and to hear four past finalists who have gone on to major international careers. This year, in keeping with our ‘Handel’s Divas’ theme, we have four higher voices in an all-Handel programme which focuses on works created for and sung by three of Handel’s favourite female singers: Giulia Frasi, Caterina Galli and Elisabeth du Parc.
Overture; What though I trace; Bless’d the day; Welcome as the dawn Solomon HWV 67
Prophetic raptures Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59
Priva son d’ogni conforto Giulio Cesare HWV 17
Oh sleep, why dost thou leave me?; Myself I shall adore Semele HWV 58
Where shall I fly? Hercules HWV 60
Fury, with red sparkling eyes; Mighty love now calls to arm Alexander Balus HWV 65
Combattuta da due venti Faramondo HWV 39
Consolati, o bella Orlando HWV 31
To thee, thou glorious son of worth Theodora HWV 68
Bramo aver mille vite & excerpts from Ballet Suite Ariodante HWV 33
Pre-performance talk (free admission with concert ticket) 6.30 – 7.15pm: one of the greatest Handel singers of our time, Alice Coote, discusses Handel’s women and her experience of portraying both his male and female characters with The Times’ critic Anna Picard.