Saul

Soloists Neal Davies and Iestyn Davies join period-instrument orchestra The English Concert for a concert performance of Handel's masterpiece of Baroque vocal music.

Neal Davies takes the title role in Handel’s Saul, joining Iestyn Davies, and exemplary period-instrument orchestra The English Concert under conductor John Butt for a concert performance of one of the true masterpieces of Baroque vocal music.

Saul is an opera in all but name, containing some of the composer’s most vivid music, and one of the largest, most colourful orchestrations he ever wrote. It tells of the first King of Israel’s early admiration and later envy and hatred towards his successor, David, and David’s love for Saul’s son Jonathan, in moving arias and powerful choruses that chart a cathartic journey from triumph to tragedy.

Sung in English with supertitles.

With support from

Programme

The English Concert

John Butt Conductor

Neal Davies Saul
Iestyn Davies
David
Andrew Haji
Jonathan
James Gilchrist High Priest
Sophie Bevan
Merab
Liv Redpath
Michal

Handel Saul

Please note: for health reasons, Bernard Labadie has withdrawn from conducting our performance of Saul. We are very grateful to John Butt, who has agreed to step in to conduct.