Händels håb om fred

6. Nov

19:30

Københavns Drengekor | Carsten Seyer-Hansen, dirigent | Marlene Metzger, sopran | Alex Potter, kontratenor | Guy Cutting, tenor | Peter Harvey, bas

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Church Music
Early music
Vocal

6. Nov

19:30

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Tickets
Church Music
Early music
Vocal

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Nørregade 8,
1165 København

Handel's Hope for Peace

Københavns Drengekor | Carsten Seyer-Hansen, dirigent | Marlene Metzger, sopran | Alex Potter, kontratenor | Guy Cutting, tenor | Peter Harvey, bas

Description

Handel's music in the Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate unites the solemnity of the church with an almost operatic festivity in a timeless expression of gratitude, relief and joy. George Frideric Handel's music is inseparably linked with great historic moments, whether war and peace, coronation or love. This concert presents three of his most iconic works: the Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate, composed in 1713 to celebrate the peace of Utrecht, and the Coronation Anthem – Zadok the Priest, written for the coronation of King George II in 1727. The Peace of Utrecht in 1713 ended the exhausting War of the Spanish Succession, which for over a decade had drained Europe's great powers of resources and lives. Besides peace, the agreement secured Britain considerable advantages, including territories such as Gibraltar. Handel composed the Te Deum and Jubilate as part of the official celebrations in London. At the premiere in St. Paul’s Cathedral the works were sung by the cathedral's boys' choir. Besides it being the tradition in the Anglican church to use boys for the soprano and alto parts and grown men for tenor and bass, this combination of young and experienced voices also came to underline the works' symbolism: a new beginning and hope for the future. Besides Messiah, Zadok the Priest is perhaps Handel's most famous work, composed for the coronation of King George II in 1727. The text, which comes from the Old Testament, hails the new king and has been sung at every British coronation since. The work opens with a dramatic orchestral introduction, followed by the choir's magnificent entry – a moment that still today makes listeners rise to their feet. Many will perhaps remember that precisely this music was used in May 2004, when Mary Donaldson as a bride walked up the aisle of the cathedral to be received by a moved Crown Prince Frederik. Then as now, in the very same church, the music will be performed by Københavns Drengekor and Concerto Copenhagen.

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