Haendel – Coronation Anthems – Hervé Niquet

The Coronation Anthems, composed by Handel for the coronation of George II, just like the Dettingen Te Deum, which celebrates England’s victory over the French army at Dettingen in 1743, aim to strengthen the power of the English crown. These works successfully fulfilled this role: the rehearsals of the Coronation Anthems drew an enthusiastic crowd never seen before. In fact, the dates and locations of the rehearsals had been casually mentioned in the press under the pretext of specifying… that they were not public! And the stakes were worth it: it was the largest ensemble Handel had ever conducted, with the king’s 24 strings, the entire 12 trumpeters and timpanists, augmented by an additional 57 musicians! The glorious Dettingen Te Deum, which completes the programme concocted by Hervé Niquet, celebrates England’s victory over the French army at Dettingen in 1743. It is their vision of these ‘grand spectacle’ pieces that Hervé Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel, drawing on their expertise in the Haendelian repertoire, present today in the course of an exciting evening.

Program.

Distribution

Chœur et Orchestre : Le Concert Spirituel / Conductor : Hervé Niquet

Organ : François Saint-Yves