Samuel Foxon
Tag: Baroque
Purcell King Arthur Programme Notes
Preconceptions can be deceiving. The title ‘King Arthur (Or the British Worthy): An Opera in Five Acts’ might lead the listener to some assumptions. ‘King Arthur’ evokes familiar names like Guinevere, Lancelot, or Gawain. This tale is different. We depart from Camelot and the Round Table, but keep the magic, the conflict, and the timeless…
Bach St John Passion Programme Notes
The music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) demands much from its listeners. It is not simply something to be passively enjoyed; rather, it compels the audience to engage both spiritually and musically. Nowhere in Bach’s output is this more evident than in his Passions—musical settings of the most compelling narrative of the intersection between the…
Messiah Programme Notes
Handel and the Oratorio In 1741, George Frederic Handel (born in 1685) found himself facing a period of personal and professional struggle. Italianate operas were losing popularity, leaving Handel reliant on a limited circle of wealthy patrons, and grappling with financial difficulties. It must have been a relief for him to receive a well-crafted libretto…