Martene Grimson soprano; Nicholas Merryweather baritone; Christopher Bucknall conductor

Performers

Martene Grimson

soprano

Nicholas Merryweather

baritone

Christopher Bucknall

conductor

Programme

Bononcini

Overture to Il trionfo di Camilla

Eccles

Excerpts from Semele

Handel

• Incidental music for The Alchemist HWV43
• Sonata a 5 HWV 288
• Apollo e Dafne HWV122

About this concert

Although not written as opera, Handel's Apollo e Dafne is a brilliantly concise musical drama.

With its rich melodic content and virtuosic instrumental writing, it demonstrates why Handel's music had such a profound impact on the London stage with the première of Rinaldo in 1711. The first half of the programme provides a rare opportunity to hear music composed or adapted for the London stage in the decade before Handel arrived.