Continuo Connect — Concert // Early Opera Company: Maurice Greene: Jephtha

Maurice Greene was Master of the King’s Musick from 1735 until his death in 1755. Jephtha was written at the height of Greene's powers in 1737, and first performed a hair's breadth from the Temple – in the Apollo Room at the Devil’s Tavern on Fleet Street! Almost 300 years on, a superb cast conducted by Christian Curnyn give a concert performance of this great oratorio in the splendid surroundings of Middle Temple Hall:

Jephtha: Andrew Staples
Jephtha’s Daughter: Mary Bevan
1st Elder: Michael Mofidian
2nd Elder: Mark Milhofer

Jephtha is a rich and varied score. Unlike Handel’s work of the same name, it preserves the tragic end of the original story. The war-like quality of Act One is followed by jubilation and subsequent mourning in Act Two. A rare performance of a magnificent work not to be missed.