Description

Soon after the premieres of Handel’s oratorios, their overtures and arias were published and circulated widely. The latter were sung in the home, at the concerts in public amusement parks like Vauxhall Gardens, and in gatherings of music enthusiasts around the country. In many places, a mixture of amateur and professional players assembled regularly to perform orchestral music, and the fare would be varied with the latest of the most popular oratorio arias. This programme takes the cue from such gatherings—though with fully professional performers.