Credit: The English Concert performing Handel’s Serse at St Martin-in-the-Fields, photo by Paul Marc Mitchell
The English Concert launches new online project
All Handel’s music online, on film, free, anytime, anywhere
The English Concert today announces that it is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a new legacy, by filming every single piece of Handel’s music and creating an online resource that is free and accessible to anyone, anywhere. Introducing Handel for All.
Handel for All will offer:
- Online library which when complete will feature video recordings of all of Handel’s works available anywhere, anytime for free
- As new works are recorded they will be added to the online portal
- Vivid and engaging performances
- A rich and accessible resource for people of all ages and abilities
- Insight and knowledge shared by leading musicians
- Support for the continuing development of the outstanding talent of the future
- New interpretations of well-known pieces as well as pieces that are seldom heard
- The chance for TEC to develop its audiences of the future
- Digital and self-led sessions for use in schools and at home
- Music Minus One – interactive digital learning materials
- A rich resource for academic institutions and cultural researchers
Harry Bicket, Artistic Director, The English Concert commented, ‘This is a really exciting moment, and we are thrilled to be embarking on this ambitious journey to film all of Handel’s incredible music. He left us such a treasure trove of delights and we want to ensure that people living now and generations to come have access to content of the highest quality. We are living in unprecedented times and sadly music is being woefully neglected in most educational settings. It is vital that we offer young people access to classical music and help to nurture the audiences of both today and tomorrow. We very much hope to develop some future Handel lovers through Handel for All.’
Handel for All will be celebrated on 28 February 2023 at Barbican Hall preceding a concert exploring Handel as a composer and philanthropist. Handel: The Philanthropist will see The English Concert, directed by Harry Bicket, and joined by Ann Hallenberg, Elena Villalón and James Way for an historically informed recreation of arguably Britain’s first benefit concert.
The English Concert has been the leading interpreter of Handel’s music for almost 50 years, celebrating and sharing the work of one of England’s most famous composers and making it relevant to audiences of today.
Handel’s prodigious output includes over 600 works ranging from full-scale ambitious operas to works for children learning how to play.
- Nearly 70 operas and oratorios including the Messiah and Guilio Cesare
- Over 150 additional vocal works including Dixit Dominus and Acis and Galatea
- Over 40 instrumental works including Water Music, Royal Fireworks Music and Organ concerti
- Over 120 chamber music pieces
Content in 2023 – 24
Samson – with Stuart Jackson in the title role (available from 16 February)
Saul – with Iestyn Davies
Handel Trio Sonatas
Acis & Galatea – with Lucy Crowe
Silete Venti – with Chiara Skerath
Apollo e Dafne – with Chiara Skerath and Jonathan McGovern
Dixit Dominus
Nisi Dominus
La Lucrezia – with American mezzo-soprano Megan Moore
Il Delirio Amoroso – with Megan Moore
Armida Abbandonata – with Mary Bevan
To be recorded in 2023 for release in 2024 (subject to change)
Solomon
Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno
Amadigi
Ariodante
Italian duets and trios
Chandos Anthems Part 1
Organ Concertos
Foundling Anthem
Music for the Royal Fireworks
Young People
Handel’s music is ideally suited to engaging young listeners and players. TEC will deliver digital and self-led sessions for use in schools and at home. The education programme will also offer resources for teachers and schools, with opportunities to take part in live workshops.
Music Minus One
A second phase of the project will see Music Minus One offer interactive digital learning materials and give people of all ages and musical ability the chance to play with the orchestra via high-quality internet videos of accessible works. Participants will be able to remove solo parts and become themselves a player or singer with The English Concert.
Next generation of Musicians
Building on TEC’s successful TECA Fellowship Programme, Handel for All offers the opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure of music performance, ensuring that the next generation of talent continues to be nurtured and supported by the skills and knowledge of established artists. This will include coaching sessions, masterclasses, performances and recordings with English Concert musicians and participation in specially organised concert and events.
Developing audiences
Digital media has changed not only how artists create and distribute content, but also how listeners find and explore new music and culture. The English Concert is developing this channel as a way to grow its audiences and in the last year, TEC attracted over 31 million streams on Spotify and over 10,000 daily listeners on Apple Music.
Research and Discovery
The English Concert is a leading exponent of Handel’s work, led by artistic director Harry Bicket, internationally recognised for his interpretation of Handel opera. This project will create a rich resource for academic institutions and cultural researchers.
Support Handel for All
This is an ambitious, long term and expensive project. If anyone is interested in supporting Handel for All, please get in touch with TEC’s Development Manager Thomas Morgan
Email: thomas@englishconcert.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0)2039622303
Handel: The Philanthropist
Handel for All will be celebrated on 28 February 2023 at Barbican Hall preceding a concert exploring Handel as a composer and philanthropist. Handel: The Philanthropist will see The English Concert, directed by Harry Bicket, and joined by Ann Hallenberg, Elena Villalón and James Way for an historically informed recreation of arguably Britain’s first benefit concert.
Alongside his astonishing musical output, Handel was also a humanitarian who raised huge amounts of money for his favourite cause, London’s Foundling Hospital for abandoned children (a cause also supported by Hogarth). In 1749, Handel gave a benefit concert, with the clear message (in the words of his Foundling Hospital Anthem which featured in the concert) ‘Blessed are they that considereth the poor and needy’. Following the success of this first benefit concert, Handel conducted a hugely popular annual performance of Messiah at the hospital for the remainder of his life. As well as the Foundling Hospital Anthem, this concert also includes extracts from Handel’s oratorio Solomon, and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Whilst the Foundling Hospital no longer exists, the Coram Foundation, named after the hospital’s founder, merchant Thomas Coram, continues to support disadvantaged children. The Foundling Museum, in Brunswick Square, London W1 reveals the rich history and legacy of the pioneering charity.