Handel Festival Japan

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Time & Date: 19:00, Friday, 16. 12. 2003
Venue: Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, Tokyo
Soloists: Hirohisa Tsuji (Acis); Naoco Kaketa (Galatea); Kazuhisa Tashiro (Polipheme); Kouki Katano (Damon); Yousuke Taniguchi (Tenor)
Orchestra: CANNONS CONCERT CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor & Cembalo: Takashi Watanabe

Greetings from the Chairman: The year 2009 will be the 250th anniversary of Handel's passing who was born in 1685, passing away in 1759. The Handel Festival Japan (HFJ) will start this year and will be gearing up towards the year 2009. HFJ aims to offer a wide range of Handel's work from vocal music to instrumental music conclusively and continuously. The Festival is also dedicated to correct the "perception of Handel" which has always been biased to MESSIAH.; "HANDEL, A MAN OF PASSION AND A MAN OF THEATRE"; This is the motto of the Festival. Handel is a Man of Theatre who had always sought to perform in theatres through his entire life. Approximately seventy operas and oratorios by Handel are theatrical entertainment works for audience who paid expensive admission prices. Handel always existed in a theatre space and had acquainted the way of expressions - simple, direct and passionate - which are able to grab audiences' hearts in a moment. Furthermore, this way of expression is actually living even in his instrumental works.　Handel is also well known as a "Man of Passion". In fact, Handel was a man of sanguine temperament and this is why he once fought with Mattheson in Hamburg. On other occasions, Handel snatched the violin from Corelli's hands in Rome because he could not put up with Corelli's calm and elegant performance. HFJ plans to bring the real attraction of Handel's work united with theatricality and passion by programming which is fresh, ambitious and aggressive as well as adventurous performance by the best performers. In addition, as one of HFJ's missions, researchers and performers will cooperate together to hold lecture concerts to search some new understanding of Handel's work.; Yearly we will be selecting a new theme for the festival to ensure consistency of each year's event. The first HFJ (HFJ 2003) is titled as "Handel at Cannons". We are going to focus on Handel's early English works. Handel visited United Kingdom in late 1710 and then started to compose English works little by little, while he pursued remarkable activities as an Italian opera composer. From summer in 1717 to around 1718 Handel had stayed temporarily in the Duke of Chandos House in Cannons, a suburb of London, which is later referred as "Era of Cannons", and he composed a masterwork of ACIS AND GALATEA. HFJ 2003 will be carried out over two days offering you to trace the history of Handel's early English works.; HFJ 2003 is a small step towards the 250th anniversary of Handel's passing. However, should this series of Festival programs be able to contribute to the introduction and increase the popularity of his work, it will be such an honor for all the performers and staff. To ensure the very first Handel Festival in Asia develop steadily in the future, your understanding and support are essential. Your continuous support is highly and truly appreciated. Thank you very much.; Toshiki Misawa; Chairman; Committee of Handel Festival Japan; (Translated by Naoko Oshima)

Greetings from Ondřej Macek: I am delighted to send my warmest greetings to all – organizers, artists and visitors – and my good wishes for the success of the 1st Handel Festival Japan!; "Handel, a man of passion and a man of theatre" is the motto of the Festival. Actually, it couldn't have been chosen better, since both Passion as well as Theatre, are the most significant terms of baroque art. The baroque philosophy considers the whole world for the big theatrical scene, humanity for the actors in it, and the human affect (passions of the soul) are, according to the baroque concept, the main subject of all kinds of the art from the 17th and 18th century.; Geroge Frideric Handel, as one of the most distinguished persons of the European baroque, absorbed into his work all the leading musical impulses of Europe of his time – Italian, French and German styles, as well as the influences of England – his adopted country.; Consequently, Handel's music possesses truly international character and therefore, it's beautiful that after Europe and America also Japan starts to create its own tradition of performances for Handel's work. Handel Festival Japan will become beyond doubt, a cultural event which will have a very powerful influence in bringing the Japanese people a knowledge and love of the Master's music.; Congratulations!; Ondřej Macek; Musical director of the Baroque Ensemble "Cappella Accademica"; Český Krumlov