Christmas Concert / Weihnachtskonzert / Symphoniker Hamburg
Handel / Britten / Tartini / Haydn
Handel’s »Alexander’s Feast« describes an event from the pre-Christian era, namely Alexander the Great’s conquest of the city of Persepolis. In between the acts of the large-scale work for soloists, choir and orchestra, Handel provided musical diversion – in the form of his Concerto Grosso in C. But this is diversion on a high level! A festive entrée to the Symphoniker Hamburg’s traditional Christmas concert, conducted this time by the leader of the orchestra, Adrian Iliescu.
In his »Simple Symphony«, first performed in 1934, the young Benjamin Britten has some fun with his own early works. He is joined in tonight’s programme by Italian composer Guiseppe Tartini, whose large body of violin music enjoyed legendary status in the 18th century. And last but not least we hear Haydn’s powerful »Farewell Symphony", which no lesser figure than Brahms said was »about life and death«, and which was said to cure depression.
Performers
Symphoniker Hamburg
Adrian Iliescu violin and director
Programme
Georg Friedrich Händel
Concerto grosso C-Dur HWV 318 »Alexanderfest«
Benjamin Britten
Simple Symphony op. 4
Giuseppe Tartini
Concerto A-Dur D 96 für Violine, Streicher und Basso continuo
Joseph Haydn
Sinfonie fis-Moll Hob. I:45 »Abschiedssinfonie«