- Introducing Principal Ensemble in Residence Arcangelo with Jonathan Cohen as Artistic Adviser
- Premiere of Tales of Apollo and Hercules, brand-new production in collaboration with New English Ballet Theatre and La Nuova Musica, directed by Thomas Guthrie
- Starring singers Emöke Baráth, Hilary Cronin, Helen Charlston, Louise Alder, Stuart Jackson and Jonathan Lemalu
- Featuring violinist Bjarte Eike, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Early Opera Company and the Irish Baroque Orchestra with Peter Whelan
- London Handel Orchestra performs under newly appointed Principal Conductor, Richard Gowers
- Final of the International Handel Singing Competition presented by Petroc Trelawny
- Performances from five previous International Handel Singing Competition winners
- London venues including St George’s Hanover Square, Stone Nest and Shoreditch Town Hall
On 7th November 2024, the London Handel Festival, now in its 49th year, announces its 2025 ‘Fantasy, Myth and Legend’ programme. The five-week Festival presents an exciting lineup of world-class artists in a mix of traditional and innovative performances with brand-new Principal Ensemble in Residence Arcangelo at the heart of the programme, led by newly appointed Artistic Adviser to the Festival, Jonathan Cohen. The London Handel Orchestra also enters an exciting chapter with its first performances under the direction of new Principal Conductor, Richard Gowers. The Festival performances will be held across a range of London venues from St George’s Hanover Square in Mayfair to Shoreditch Town Hall and will run from 7th March to 10th April 2025. The 2025 Festival is full of artistic delights, thrilling Handel-inspired performances and special events, designed to celebrate the remarkable life and musical legacy of this great composer.
Jonathan Cohen, Artistic Director of Arcangelo and the newly appointed Artistic Adviser to the London Handel Festival comments: “I am delighted to be beginning this new chapter with Arcangelo as the new Principal Ensemble in Residence at the London Handel Festival. The 2025 London Festival features a fantastic array of performances by great ensembles and artists coming together to present some of Handel’s most remarkable music. Since its formation nearly 50 years ago, the London Handel Festival has played an important role in the revival and celebration of Handel’s music. I look forward to building on this remarkable legacy and continuing to establish the London Handel Festival as a leading global destination for the very best performances of Handel’s works.”
The London Handel Festival opens on 7th March at St George’s Hanover Square with L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, an oratorio based on the poetry of John Milton and widely regarded as one of Handel’s most unique and inspiring works. Performed by Principal Ensemble in Residence Arcangelo under the direction of newly appointed Artistic Adviser Jonathan Cohen, the massed orchestral and choral forces are joined by a star-studded lineup of international soloists. This is the first of three performances from Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen as part of their premier residency at the Festival. They go on to perform on 12th March at the Foundling Museum as Arcangelo’s New Ensemblists, a handpicked chamber ensemble formed in 2022 made up of some of the most exciting emerging instrumentalists in Europe. Their third and final performance within the Festival is the Celebrity Recital on 14th March at St George’s Hanover Square which promises to be a very special evening featuring Hungarian soprano Emőke Baráth in a programme celebrating great Handelian heroines.
Following recent sell-out productions of Aci, by the River (2024) and In the Realms of Sorrow (2023), the Handel Opera Studio, in collaboration with La Nuova Musica and New English Ballet Theatre, presents Tales of Apollo and Hercules; a brand-new and original Handelian double bill. Presented in the Victorian grandeur of Shoreditch Town Hall’s Music Hall, Tales of Apollo and Hercules weaves together two dramatic tales composed at opposite ends of Handel’s life. Much-acclaimed director Thomas Guthrie joins rising-star choreographer Valentino Zuccetti to create a spellbinding evening of mythical and fantastical storytelling through drama and dance.
Festival Director, Gregory Batsleer adds: “The 2025 Festival promises to be one most artistically ambitious yet. Highlights include a return performance by violinist and director Bjarte Eike, concerts with much-loved ensembles including the OAE, Academy of Ancient Music, and Early Opera Company as well as a debut performance by the Irish Baroque Orchestra. I am particularly delighted that five previous winners of the International Handel Singing Competition will join us as soloists across the Festival, a sign of the continued importance and impact of this prestigious competition. 2025 will be a hugely significant year for the London Handel Festival as we begin our new musical collaboration with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen. We are all looking forward to welcoming them to the London Handel Festival family.”
Handel was deeply committed to nurturing and championing the talents of young singers from around the world, many of whom rose to fame as his star soloists. The International Handel Singing Competition continues this great tradition and has grown since its inauguration in 2002 to become a major international event with a reputation for showcasing the very best young singing talent. This year’s final will be held on 2nd April at St George’s Hanover Square, presented by BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Petroc Trelawny where the finalists will perform alongside the Academy of Ancient Music. The Semi-Final, open to the public, will be held on 4th March, also at St George’s Hanover Square.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra make their London Handel Festival debut under the baton of Artistic Director Peter Whelan with a performance of Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno on 19th March at St George’s Hanover Square. Handel’s debut oratorio, this work is considered a true landmark of the Baroque era, presenting a tale of love, choice, temptation, and fate, as performed here by soloists Hilary Cronin, Helen Charlston, Jess Dandy and James Way, two of whom are recent winners of the International Handel Singing Competition.
As part of its 20th anniversary season, experimental record label and promoter nonclassical returns to the London Handel Festival on 20th March for Arias Reimagined at Stone Nest in the heart of London’s West End. The programme features a selection of well-known Handel arias reimagined live by an exciting line up of artists and performers, all of whom are renowned for their originality.
Under the baton of their new Principal Conductor Richard Gowers, the London Handel Orchestra, London Handel Singers, and the Choir of St George’s, Hanover Square come together on 22nd March for a very special tercentenary celebration marking the foundation of St George’s Church, Hanover Square in 1725; the very church Handel helped to build and where he worshipped. The massed forces present Handel’s Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne and Dettingen Te Deum alongside the Organ Concerto in D Minor and soloists include Alexander Chance and Florian Störtz, winners of the International Handel Singing Competition in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Following his debut in 2023, legendary violinist Bjarte Eike returns to the London Handel Festival on 5th April at Middle Temple Hall where he performs with principal members of his award-winning baroque ensemble Barokksolistene, in collaboration with members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and mezzo-soprano Katie Bray.
Lunchtime recitals remain a Festival highlight at The Charterhouse in the heart of the City of London with recitals on 18th March from violinist Charlotte Spruit, 25th March fromkeyboard player Steven Devine and 1st April from The Vauxhall Band.
Award-winning chamber ensemble Ensemble Augelletti perform a Handel-inspired programme at the Handel Supper Club on 8th April in the newly opened Undercroft restaurant at St George’s, Hanover Square, where the ticket price includes a three-course meal.
Stars of the Future presents a series of intimate chamber recitals in Handel’s very own living room at Handel Hendrix House from some of the UK’s finest young musicians. Students from the Royal Academy of Music perform on 10th March, from the Royal College of Music on 17th March and audiences are treated to finalists from the 2024 International Handel Singing Competition on 4th April.
The London Handel Festival draws to a close on 10th April with hidden operatic gem Floridante, performed by the Early Opera Company under the baton of Christian Curnyn, featuring a cast of acclaimed Handel singers including Jonathan Lemalu. This three-act opera seria recounts the legend of Floridante, the Prince of Thrace in the mythical ancient Persia, and his dynastic struggles intertwined with tales of love.
As ever, the festival presents opportunities for people to get involved in appreciating the music of Handel beyond attending traditional performances through the popular ‘Come and Sing’ events which offer the chance to sing Handel’s music in the company of a leading Handel expert, guided walks around London, open rehearsals, talks and special online preview events. Special ticket offers such as £15 student tickets and £10 tickets for LHF first-timers audience members make the performances more accessible than ever.
- For full information on timings, repertoire and tickets: https://www.london-handel-festival.com/
- Booking opens for LHF Members from 7th November
- Tickets on sale to the general public from 20th November
7th March 2025 Opening Concert: L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato HWV 55 (7pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Louise Alder (soprano), Paulina Francisco (soprano), Stuart Jackson (tenor), Adam Plachetka (bass), Arcangelo,
Jonathan Cohen (director/harpsichord)
10th March 2025 Stars of the Future: The Royal Academy of Music (1pm)
Handel Hendrix House, 25 Brook Street, London W1K 4HB
12th March 2025 Chamber Delights with Arcangelo New Ensemblists (7pm)
The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
Arcangelo New Ensemblists, Jonathan Cohen (director/harpsichord)
14th March 2025 A Celebrity Recital: Arcangelo and Emőke Baráth (7pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Emőke Baráth (soprano), Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen (director/harpsichord)
17th March 2025 Stars of the Future: The Royal College of Music (1pm)
Handel Hendrix House, 25 Brook Street, London W1K 4HB
18th March 2025 Lunchtimes at the Charterhouse: Charlotte Spruit plays Handel (1pm)
The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6AN
Charlotte Spruit (violin), Johnny Byres (cello), Sergio Bucheli (theorbo), Tom Foster (harpsichord)
19th March 2025 Irish Baroque Orchestra: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno HWV 46a (7pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Hilary Cronin (soprano), Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano), Jess Dandy (contralto), James Way (tenor), Irish Baroque Orchestra, Peter Whelan
20th March 2025 Arias Reimagined with nonclassical (7pm)
Stone Nest, 136 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5EZ
Gabriel Prokofiev, Jennifer Walshe, Neil Luck, Lotte Betts-Dean
22nd March 2025 St George’s: A Tercentenary Celebration (7pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Zoe Brookshaw (soprano), Alexander Chance (countertenor), Hugo Hymas (tenor), Florian Störtz (bass), London Handel Orchestra, London Handel Singers, Choir of St George’s Church, Richard Gowers
25th March 2025 Lunchtime at the Charterhouse: Steven Devine (1pm)
The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6AN
Steven Devine (harpsichord/organ)
27th March 2025 The Handel Opera Studio presents: Tales of Apollo and Hercules (7pm)
28th March 2025 The Handel Opera Studio presents: Tales of Apollo and Hercules (7pm)
29th March 2025 The Handel Opera Studio presents: Tales of Apollo and Hercules (2pm)
29th March 2025 The Handel Opera Studio presents: Tales of Apollo and Hercules (7pm)
Shoreditch Town Hall: Assembly Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
Dan D’Souza (baritone), Lauren Lodge-Campbell (soprano), James Hall (countertenor), Samantha Clarke (soprano), Bethany Horak-Hallett (mezzo-soprano), New English Ballet Theatre, La Nuova Musica, David Bates (musical director)
1st April 2025 Lunchtime at the Charterhouse: Garden Folk: The Vauxhall Band (1pm)
The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6AN
Laura Piras (flute), Anna Brigham (violin), Carina Drury (cello), David Wright (harpsichord)
2nd April 2025 International Handel Singing Competition Final (7:30pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Academy of Ancient Music
4th April 2025 Stars of the Future: Finalists of the International HSC 2024 (1pm)
Handel Hendrix House, 25 Brook Street, London W1K 4HB
5th April 2025 Party Knights in the Middle Temple Hall! (7pm)
Middle Temple Hall, Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9BT
Principal Members of Barokksolistene, Members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Katie Bray (mezzo-soprano), Bjarte Eike (director/violin)
8th April 2025 Handel Supper Club (7pm)
Undercroft, St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Ensemble Augelletti
10th April 2025 Closing Concert: Floridante HWV 14 (7pm)
St George’s, Hanover Square, Mill Street, London W1S 1FX
Hilary Summers (contralto), Beth Taylor (mezzo-soprano), Rowan Pierce (soprano), Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone), Matthew Durkan (baritone), The Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn