Handel

Thomas Dunford’s Jupiter Ensemble and French-Italian soprano Lea Desandre step into the thick of Handel’s oratorios and other works for London to embrace some of the composer’s most expressive arias, none more affecting than 'With darkness deep, as is my woe' from Theodora and the sublime 'Guardian angels, oh, protect me', a ravishing number from the 1757 version of The Triumph of Time and Truth. They conclude with the vocal pyrotechnics of 'No, no! I'll take no less', the mortal Semele’s command to the god Jupiter!

Programme:

GF Handel

• Theodora HWV68: With Darkness

• Occasional Oratorio HWV62: Fly from the threat'ning vengeance, fly

• Dances from Terpsicore

• Theodora HWV68: As with rosy steps the Morn

• Joseph and his Brethren HWV59: Prophetic raptures swell my breast

• Suite from Theodora

• Solomon HWV67: Will the sun forget to streak

• Suite in D minor HWV437: III. Saraband

• The Triumph of Time and Truth HWV71: Guardian angels, oh, protect me

• Semele HWV58: No, no! I'll take no less

Jupiter Ensemble

Thomas Dunford - director, lute

Lea Desandre - mezzo-soprano