The Guardian: The English Concert/Bicket review – Handel of grace and elan as Bicket takes us back to 1749 London

The Guardian
By Tim Ashley

This recreation of the composer’s benefit concert for the Foundling Hospital was beautifully delivered

Harry Bicket and the English Concert have recently embarked on an extraordinary and ambitious project entitled Handel for All, the aim of which is to eventually make their own filmed performances of the composer’s entire output available free online. This Barbican concert essentially recreated an afternoon in May 1749, when Handel gave a benefit performance of his own works in aid of the Foundling Hospital in London. The programme, then as now, consisted of the Music for the Royal Fireworks, extracts from Solomon, and the Foundling Hospital Anthem, newly composed for the occasion, though much of it actually recycled existing material, including the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah.

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