Handel: Belshazzar: Festival Chorus, Orchestra & Soloists at Pinner Parish Church, London on Saturday 9th June 2018

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Handel: Belshazzar

Festival Chorus, Orchestra & Soloists

Part of the Pinner Music Festival 2018

Add to my Calendar 09-06-2018 19:45 09-06-2018 21:45 36 Handel: Belshazzar This year we shall be performing Handel's wonderful oratorio, Belshazzar, first performed in London in 1745. It tells the story of the fall of Babylon at the hands of the Persians. King Belshazzar was very fond of a good party; during one of his excessive feasts, a mysterious hand writes on the wall: 'mene, mene, tekel, upharsin'. This is interpreted by the Jewish prophet, Daniel, as a judgement from God, foretelling the fall of Babylon. The prediction comes true when Babylon is invaded and Belshazzar slain. The victorious Persians pledge to rebuild Jerusalem and allow the Jews to return there. The dramatic story gives Handel a great opportunity for some excellent music. Handel wrote to his librettist, Jennens: "Your most excellent oratorio has given me great delight in setting it to music and it engages me warmly. It is indeed a noble piece, very grand and uncommon. It has given me opportunity [for] some very particular ideas, besides so many great choruses." Pinner Parish Church, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Pinner Parish Church
Church Lane
Harrow
London
HA5 3AA
England

Saturday 9th June 2018
7:45 PM

Programme

George Frideric Handel – Belshazzar, HWV 61

Performers

Rachel Ambrose Evans – soprano
Diana Moore – mezzo-soprano
Daniel Collins – countertenor
Julian Stocker – Tenor
Jonathan Stainsby – Bass
David Gould – Conductor

Pinner Festival Chorus
Pinner Festival Orchestra

Other concerts in this Series (+)

Programme Note

This year we shall be performing Handel's wonderful oratorio, Belshazzar, first performed in London in 1745. It tells the story of the fall of Babylon at the hands of the Persians. King Belshazzar was very fond of a good party; during one of his excessive feasts, a mysterious hand writes on the wall: 'mene, mene, tekel, upharsin'. This is interpreted by the Jewish prophet, Daniel, as a judgement from God, foretelling the fall of Babylon. The prediction comes true when Babylon is invaded and Belshazzar slain. The victorious Persians pledge to rebuild Jerusalem and allow the Jews to return there.

The dramatic story gives Handel a great opportunity for some excellent music. Handel wrote to his librettist, Jennens: "Your most excellent oratorio has given me great delight in setting it to music and it engages me warmly. It is indeed a noble piece, very grand and uncommon. It has given me opportunity [for] some very particular ideas, besides so many great choruses."

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