10th May
Concert will begin at 17:00 hours GMT
Händel's 'Judas Maccabeus' with Tarver, Breiwick, Harmsen and Fernandes from Göttingen
Concert from the Göttingen International Händel Festival. Händel's 'Judas Maccabeus' is an oratorio in three acts based on a libretto written by Thomas Morell. The events depicted in the oratorio are from the period 170–160 BC when Judea was ruled by the Seleucid Empire which undertook to destroy the Jewish religion. Being ordered to worship Zeus, many Jews obeyed under the threat of persecution; however, some did not. One who defied was the elderly priest Mattathias who killed a fellow Jew who was about to offer a pagan sacrifice. After tearing down a pagan altar, Mattathias retreated to the hills and gathered others who were willing to fight for their faith. Performers:
Kenneth Tarver: Judas Maccabaeus.
Deanna Breiwick: Israelitish Woman.
Sophie Harmsen: Israelitish Man.
João Fernandes: Simon, Eupolemus.
Owen Willetts: Priest.
Ina Jaks: Messenger.
NDR Chor. FestspielOrchester Göttingen. Harpsichord and conductor: Laurence Cummings.
Live.
Stadthalle, Göttingen