Handel Concerts and Events

Celebrate Handel throughout the year!

 

The ever-popular Messiah is performed by the Chicago Chorale (www.chicagochorale.org) in December; in March the group presents another pillar of the Baroque repertoire, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.

Messiah—Sunday, December 9, 2007, 2:30 pm
St. Matthew Passion—Saturday, March 15, 2008, 7:00 pm (pre-concert lecture by church historian Martin Marty at 6:00)

Both concerts are at the Church of the Holy Family, 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL
Tickets: $20 general ($18 online) / $12 students ($10 online)
For more information: e-mail info@chicagochorale.org or visit www.chicagochorale.org

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Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society (www.handelandhaydn.org) also performs Messiah to open the Christmas season, as well as three other concerts featuring Handel’s music in 2008.

Messiah—Friday, November 30, 2007, 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 1, 2007, 3:00 pm; Sunday, December 2, 2007, 3:00 pm / Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
Baroque Jewels for the English Theatre—Friday, January 11, 2008, 8:00 pm; Sunday, January 13, 2008, 7:00 pm / Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
Royal Fireworks!—Friday, January 25, 2008, 8:00 pm; Sunday, January 27, 3:00 pm / Symphony Hall
Italian Virtuosi—Friday, March 21, 8:00 pm; Sunday, March 23, 7:00 pm / Jordan Hall

For more information: visit www.handelandhaydn.org

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Baroque Band (www.baroqueband.org), one of the newest ensembles on the Chicago early music scene and a guest ensemble at MEMF 2008, presents Handel’s in a Rage, featuring soprano Jennifer Ellis in two cantatas.  The rest of their season includes an “18th-century spectacular” and a flute extravaganza.

Handel’s in a Rage—Wednesday, December 12, 2007; Saturday, December 15, 2007; Monday, December 17, 2007
An Evening at London’s Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens—Wednesday, March 26, 2008; Friday, March 28, 2008; Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Beguiling Flute (with Anita Reider)—Wednesday, June 4, 2008; Thursday, June 5, 2008; Wednesday, June 11, 2008

All concerts begin at 7:30 pm.  Venues include Symphony Center, Chicago, IL; Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, Hyde Park, IL; and Music Institute of Chicago, Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, IL (please see website for locations of specific concerts).
Tickets: $30 general / $27 seniors / $15 students
For more information: call (312) 235-2368, e-mail info@baroqueband.org, or visit www.baroqueband.org

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The Handel Week Festival (www.handelweek.com) presents three concerts of Handel’s music, each preceded by a discussion with artistic director Dennis Northway and followed by a reception with the artists.

Concert I: The Grand Handel—Saturday, February 16, 2008, 7:30 pm (discussion at 6:45)
Concert II: The Intimate Handel—Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 7:30 pm (discussion at 6:45)
Concert III: Acis and Galatea—Sunday, February 24, 2008, 3:00 pm (discussion at 2:15)

All concerts are at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake St., Oak Park, IL
For more information: call (708) 524-0695 (tickets), e-mail info@handelweek.com, or visit www.handelweek.com

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Ars Musica Chicago (www.arsmusicachicago.org), comprising the Ars Musica Singers and Ars Musica Baroque Chamber Ensemble, features its instrumental half in a concert of Handel’s chamber music, The Intimate Handel.

The Intimate Handel—Sunday, February 17, 2008, 7:00 p.m. (pre-concert lecture by WFMT radio host Carl Grapentine at 6:00) / DePaul University Art Museum, 2350 North Kenmore, Chicago, IL

Tickets: $20 general / $15 seniors / $5 students
For more information: call (312) 409-7874, e-mail ArsMusicaChicago@aol.com, or visit www.arsmusicachicago.org

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Handel’s less-performed oratorio Solomon is performed by the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (www.baroqueartists.org) in March.

Solomon—Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m. / Smith Recital Hall, 805 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL

Tickets: $18 general / $15 seniors / $10 students
For more information: call (217) 378-6802, e-mail info@baroqueartists.org, or visit www.baroqueartists.org

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Handel’s operas have received increased recognition on American stages in recent years, with productions from New York to Los Angeles.  This season the Chicago Opera Theater (www.chicagooperatheater.org), with conductor Raymond Leppard and director Justin Way, produces Handel’s 1732 opera Orlando.

Orlando—May 28, 31, June 3, 6, 2008, 7:30 pm, June 8, 2008, 3:00 pm, Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, Chicago

Tickets for individual operas go on sale January 21, 2008