SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

The Handel Experience: Devon Baroque's weekend of Handel at Dartington Hall 14th and 15th November 2009 (BK)

Following the success of its 'Vivaldi Experience' weekend last year, Devon Baroque, the county's only professional chamber orchestra directed by Margaret Faultless, is holding two days of lectures, workshops and concerts at Dartington Hall near Totnes. The Handel Weekender tickets are fairly well sold out but cancellations may occur so  details of the complete programme and ticket booking arrangements are given below.

Saturday 14th November

10.00-10.20 The Great Hall

Registration for workshop

10.30-13.00 The Great Hall
 - Play Baroque (£10 payable in advance)

The weekend starts with a Baroque workshop led by Margaret Faultless and cellist Reinmar Seidler. 
Intended for students, amateurs, teachers and professionals – anyone with sight-reading ability – but not necessarily experience of baroque style. We will play at A=415 (string players can tune down their 'modern' instruments). Repertoire will focus on Handel, but will also include other composers whose music was heard in eighteenth-century London.
Numbers are limited, so do apply early!  Non-players are welcome to watch and listen. Click here to download a workshop application form.


14.30-15.30 The Ship Studio
The Ecological Handel

Talk by Reinmar Seidler, musician & biologist.
The evolution of musical styles through time mirrors the changing ways we think about nature and about ecological sustainability.

16.30-17.30 The Great Hall  Handel and the English Flute

Recorder virtuoso James Risdon performs and discusses Handel trios and sonatas with Emily White violin and Andrew Daldorph harpsichord.

20.00 The Great Hall
London – Earthly Paradise of Foreign Musicians

Margaret Faultless (violin) Reinmar Seidler (baroque cello) and Andrew Wilson-Dickson (harpsichord)  with soprano Rachel Nicholls, present a programme based on an actual concert that took place in 1754 when a small group of Handel’s friends performed at the New Haymarket Theatre in London, including:


Hellendaal: Sonata in G major for violin & continuo, opus 4

Bononcini: Arias from Camilla

Lanzett: Sonata in F major for cello & continuo, opus 5

Handel:Italian Arias

Handel: Sonata in D major for violin & continuo HWV 371


Sunday 15th November

10.30 to 11.30 Ship Studio 
Handel and his World – Musical Life in 18th Century London  Talk by Dr. Lucy Robinson, historian & musician.

12.00 to 13.00 The Great Hall 
Handel Unravelled

Open orchestra rehearsal-demonstration. Andrew Wilson-Dickson and Devon Baroque explore the inner workings of music from the afternoon concert.

15.00 The Great Hall 
Handel and his London Band

Devon Baroque directed by Margaret Faultless with Andrew Wilson-Dickson continuo and organ.

Handel Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Concerto Grosso from opus 3

Organ Concerto in D minor, opus 7 no. 4, Concerto Grosso from opus 6

Concerto from Alexander's Feast

Tickets and Booking

Prices for the Saturday evening concert: 
Adults £12, The Arts at Dartington members £11, students & young people £5.

Prices for the Sunday afternoon concert:
Adults £18, The Arts at Dartington members £17, students & young people £5.

A few tickets for the Talks at £3 may be available at the door.
Booking office: phone 01803 847070
 Dartington Box Office, The Barn, Dartington Hall, Totnes TQ9 6DE.

The Handel Experience Weekender

For £35 per person you can enjoy the whole weekend by purchasing a Weekender ticket. The package includes entry to the concert and recital, entry to all the events (except participation in the Workshop) and a souvenir programme. NB Weekender tickets are now sold out.

For directions to Dartington, go to: www.dartington.org/get-in-touch/directions-and-maps

Bill Kenny