Opening concert Concentus Musicus and Corus Sine Nomine - Int. Harnoncourt Days 2026

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026, 7:00 PM ST. GEORGE'S PARISH CHURCH Georg Friedrich Händel: (1685-1759) Alexander's Feast or the Power of Music, HWV 75 Ode in Honour of St. Cecilia Text: John Dryden Oratorio for Soloists, Choir, and Orchestra Katharina Ruckgaber, Soprano Robert Bartneck, Tenor Matthias Helm, Bass Concentus Musicus Vienna Chorus sine nomine Stefan Gottfried, Conductor With Händel's magnificent oratorio Alexander's Feast from 1736, we pay tribute not only to St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, but also to our namesake and great musician Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Through the example of the ancient hero Alexander the Great, Händel uniquely demonstrates the power of music, as the subtitle of this work suggests. An additional text in the second part of the piece transitions the ancient pagan event into a festive ode in honor of St. Cecilia as the patroness of church music.