Athalia

In October 2024, early music pioneer Ton Koopman turned eighty. Last season, the ever-active conductor marked this milestone with impressive performances of Handel’s oratorios Esther and Deborah. Now, Athalia, yet another English oratorio by Handel that is rarely heard live, will be performed. Leading vocalists like Anna Prohaska, Deborah Cachet and Tim Mead bring to life the biblical tale of the blasphemous queen Athalia. Koopman and his energetic orchestra provide the instrumental foundation. With his three early English oratorios, Esther, Deborah and Athalia, Handel established a firm basis for the oratorio’s evolution into a grand work for orchestra, solo singers and chorus. Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus, Jephta, and especially the Messiah, are absolute masterpieces of the genre. Just like these renowned oratorios, Athalia stands out with its compelling vocal solos and powerful choruses, accompanied by invigorating orchestral parts.