Handel Festival Japan

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Time & Date

19:00, Friday, 13. 1. 2006

Venue

Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, Tokyo

Soloists

Yoshikazu Mela (A: Hercules)

Yukari Nonoshita (S: Pleasure)

Mutsumi Hatano (MS: Virtue)

Hirohisa Tsuji (T: Attendant)

Choir & Orchestra

CANNONS CONCERT CHAMBER CHOIR & ORCHESTRA

Conductor & Cembalo

Takashi Watanabe

Choirmaster

Hirohisa Tsuji

Program

Two Concerti Grossi from "12 CONCERTI GROSSI" Op. 6

No. 10, A-major (HWV 328) & No. 11, d-minor (HWV 329)

Allegorical Oratorio THE CHOICE OF HERCULES (HWV 69)

(The first performance in Japan)

Greetings from the Chairman: Thank you for coming to the Handel Festival Japan Vol.3. The Handel Festival Japan started in 2003 and this is the third festival. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for your generous support. In the Handel Festival Japan Vol. 3, we are going to direct a spotlight on Handel's works from his ripening stage to his closing years, whereas the last two Handel Festival Japan were mainly focused on Handel works relative to his early years.; Handel's theatre activities in London over 50 years since 1710 can be divided into two major periods. The former period is the Italian Opera activities at the King's Theatre, Haymarket, and the latter one is the Oratorio activities in English at the Royal Theatre, Covent Garden. This time, under the title of "Handel at Covent Garden", we are going to introduce you to Handel's activities from his ripening stage to closing years when oratorios performances played a central role.; In Project I Lecture "Handel at Coventgarden", we explore a process of Handel's change of direction from Operas, to Oratorios in the 1730's. In addition, we aim to reveal how Handel grows up from an employed theatre composer to an independent impresario in the 1740's.; Project II "Unknown choral masterpieces from Handel's oratorios" introduces various types of chorus music carefully screened from Handel's oratorios works, which will be performed by a newly established choir, the Cannons Concert Chamber Choir (CCCC) under exclusive contract with Handel Festival Japan. CCCC is delighted to deliver this chorus music by their performance with beautiful harmony and mobile power.; In Project III you will have an opportunity to enjoy a performance of THE CHOICE OF HERCULES for the first time in Japan. THE CHOICE OF HERCULES is known as an allegorical oratorio, which is Handel's masterpiece in his closing years with a great combination of solo, ensemble and chorus despite of its small scale. Please enjoy an allegorical play performed by the Cannons Concert Chamber Orchestra & Choir with its conductor Mr. Takashi Watanabe, and a splendid party of solo performers – Yoshikazu Mela (Hercules), Yukari Nonoshita (Pleasure), Mutsumi Hatano (Virtue) and Hirohisa Tsuji (Attendant). In Handel's oratorio performances, Organ Concerto played by Handel himself or Concerto Grosso directed by Handel himself between acts fascinated the audience. And so we introduce you to two pieces of music from the "12 Concerti Grossi" Op.6 by the Cannons Concert Chamber Orchestra (CCCO) prior to the performance of "The Choice of Hercules". Ricreation d'Arcadia composed by four members from the CCCO won first place of the competition "Premio Bonporti 2004"(VIII Concorso Internazionale di Musica da Camera su strumenti originali),Rovereto, Italy. There is no doubt the CCCO in which these four performers take a leading part will deliver the true charm of Handel's ensemble music vividly with their young passion.; The Handel Festival Japan has a goal to introduce the various images of Handel himself, and consequently we cannot deny that its program will spotlight more of his infamous works. Unfortunately, the direction of the festival is not inconsistent with profitability. The only solution to this difficult task is that music fans are able to recognize that events provided by the Handel Festival Japan are always high quality and that those events are filled with Handel's unique passion and his wild fascination. Handel Festival Japan is very determined to make a maximum effort to the purpose. Your kind understanding for the direction of Handel Festival Japan would be highly appreciated and we would like to welcome you to the events as well as your comments and advice as it makes our activities so much more worthwhile.; Best regards,; Toshiki Misawa; Chairman; Committee of Handel Festival Japan; (Translated by Naoko Oshima)