Dixit Dominus

Our second project under the direction of the renowned harpsichordist and specialist for historical performance practice: Kristian Bezuidenhout!

“Silete Venti” and “Dixit Dominus” are two sacred works written by George Frideric Handel that could not be more different and demonstrate his enormous stylistic range. 
Handel wrote his psalm setting “Dixit Dominus” during his stay in Italy and completed it on April 11, 1707 at the age of 21. The exact background of its creation and the premiere are unclear, but it is likely that the choral composition was premiered in Rome as part of the annual celebration of the Carmelite Order. Handel's music is characterized by great expressivity and flirtatious rhythms - very fiery Italian. 16 years later, Handel wrote his solo cantata “Silete Venti”, the occasion and premiere of which are also not known with certainty. One hears that Handel had now become an established opera composer in London. Handel creates the vocal line in large, theatrical arcs, which not only requires the singer to have an extremely long breath, but also a high level of virtuosity and athletic fitness. A special feature of the composition is the overture, in which the soprano intervenes in the instrumental action as if out of nowhere - an absolute novelty! 
As befits a Handel evening with sacred music, an organ concert by the composer will also be performed. Handel's organ concertos are true gems of baroque music that impress with their wealth of ideas, their delicate virtuosity and their exuberant joy of life.