One of the most enchanting small festival locations
- Samson, L' Allegro, Acis and Galatea and Orlando.
- Visits to Paderborn, Goslar and Kassel with its incomparable collection of Dutch and Flemish Paintings.
THE EMANCIPATION OF Handel’s operas from arcane curiosity to standard repertoire, and the transition from obscure productions to guaranteed good box office at mainstream opera houses, has been remarkably rapid.
The start of the Handel opera revival can be clearly dated and located: 1920, Göttingen. For a good half century, therefore, a small town in Germany was plugging away at this recondite repertoire before the revival really began to take off. And though had no direct connection with him, it was once in the Electorate (later Kingdom) of Hanover, two of whose rulers were enthusiastic patrons of Handel, albeit as Kings George I and George II of England.
George II founded a university here which soon became one of Germany’s largest and most august, and it is one of the features which contributes to making the town such an agreeable place to be (though an uninformed visitor might be startled to observe that the average age of the inhabitants seems to be about twenty-two). The critic Hugh Canning, writing in Opera, says that it ‘remains one of the most enchanting small festival locations I know’.
Within the city walls, most of the buildings are pre-twentieth century, a good half being of half-timber construction. Cafés and bars abound, and the town is eminently walkable.
Under the artistic direction of renowned Handel conductor, Nicholas McGegan, the recently-formed festival orchestra boasts some of the finest Baroque specialists from all over the world. Highlights of the festival include both of Handel’s great works based on poetry by John Milton (Samson and L’ Allegro), and also one of his most astonishing London operas, Orlando.
Among the concert and opera venues – all of which are within walking distance of each other and the hotels – are the beautiful Neo-Classical Aula of the university and the delightful nineteenth-century 600-seat theatre.
As well as giving talks exclusively to our group, the lecturer gives public talks which you are welcome to attend.