Sacred raptures cheer my breast Sacred raptures cheer my breast

The English Concert’s annual Handel tour brings Solomon conducted by Harry Bicket to the US beginning Sunday March 5. In anticipation, Chris’s Cache offers Solomon plus four other oratorios by the master:  Belshazzar, Hercules, Saul and Jephtha, all via broadcasts for which I feel a personal connection.

Festal joy triumphant Festal joy triumphant

The July-August timeframe in the San Francisco Bay Area is always exciting time in terms of opera.

Old-Fashioned Oratorio Old-Fashioned Oratorio

For the fourth annual edition of “Handel for my birthday” Trove Thursday serves up three heaping portions of “old-fashioned oratorio.”

Nooks and crannies Nooks and crannies

Nathan Hull was an operatic Quixote who did not go it alone, but inspired bands of optimists, giving proper employment to the many worthy New Yorkers mad enough to study voice and pleasure rare elsewhere to those of us thrilled to take it in.

American woman American woman

Trove Thursday presents Alzira—derided by some as Verdi’s worst opera—in a 1968 Carnegie Hall concert with Gianfranco Cecchele, Louis Quilico (star of last night’s Met Rigoletto stream) and Elinor Ross, who died in March at age 93.

Agrippina Agrippina

“Trove Thursday” presents for the third annual installment of “Handel for my Birthday” a wickedly ideal Felicity Palmer dominating Agrippina.

Drunk in both head and heart Drunk in both head and heart

This week’s “Trove Thursday” offers Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice featuring Anthony Rolfe Johnson.

Their sound is gone out into all lands Their sound is gone out into all lands

“Trove Maundy Thursday” offers a recent un-HIP version of Handel’s Messiah.

Martyr system Martyr system

William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants made a much-anticipated appearance at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival Saturday performing Theodora.

Revival meeting Revival meeting

For many in New York and around the world, if the name William Christie appears on a concert or opera program, it’s a must-attend.

Partial eclipse Partial eclipse

We must be doubly grateful that The English Concert’s recent Theodora was so quickly followed by the American Classical Orchestra’s fine Samson on Tuesday evening at Alice Tully Hall.

Deeds of kindness to review Deeds of kindness to review

For decades thousands and thousands have attended Handel’s Messiah (usually around Christmas or more appropriately near Easter) making it easily one of the most widely known works of classical music.

Empire records Empire records

That’s what it must have been like in 1726 London when Handel composed Alessandro for perhaps the three most famous (and expensive) singers of the day.