Author: Oberon
Thursday April 13th, 2023 - In anticipation of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6th, my companion - a longtime monarchist - and I had been referring to tonight's all-Handel program at Carnegie Hall as the "coronation concert". The Orchestra of St. Luke's, under the baton of their Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie, were joined by soloists Joélle Harvey (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), and Sumner Thompson (baritone) and the vocal ensemble La Chapelle de Québec for one of the most delightful evenings of music-making in recent memory.
Maestro Labadie spoke briefly before commencing the opening piece: "Zadok the priest," HWV 258. This work was composed by Handel for the coronation of King George II in 1727 and has been sung at every coronation of a British monarch since. Maestro Labadie said just enough about the music - and about the impending coronation - to whet our appetite.
The maestro then turned to the beloved musicians of the Orchestra of St. Luke's and the splendid singers of of La Chapelle de Québec and the evening took off in high style; the renowned Carnegie acoustic seemed more alive than ever, and the vast audience were immediately under a Handelian spell, our thoughts diverted - for two precious hours - away from school shootings, banned books, leaked documents, and other un-American activities of a political party that seems intent on making people's lives miserable.
Another coronation anthem followed immediately: "Let thy hand be strengthened," HWV 259, with its beauteous andante second movement. The voices of La Chapelle de Québec fell graciously on the ear, the orchestra lending de luxe support.
Then the orchestra took up Handel's famed Music for the Royal Fireworks which was composed in 1749, at King George II's command, to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle, which ended the Austrian War of Succession. The work's official premiere drew an audience of 12,000 people at London's Green Park, and caused a traffic jam that shut down London Bridge for several hours.
The music itself takes the form of a Baroque dance suite in six movements, commencing with an Ouverture that is heralded by beating drums. Next come the blithe, elegant Bourrée and the calm beauty of La Paix. In the lively La réjouissance, John Feeney's double bass stood out in rapid figurations. The suite closes with two Minuets, played to perfection.
Following the interval, the coronation anthem "My heart is inditing," HWV 261, showed off the lovely harmonies of the choral voices to sublime effect.
Two lutenists - one of them, Adam Cockerham, who I'd met before - and the three vocal soloists now appeared for the Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74, one of Handel's earliest "English" works (1713). The work is also known by the title ‘Eternal source of light divine’, the first line of the text. Appreciative of Handel's great talent, Queen Anne subsequently granted the composer a ‘pension’ of two hundred pounds a year for life.
Of the soloists, we first hear the unique sound of countertenor Iestyn Davies, joined by the Orchestra's brilliant trumpeter Kevin Cobb. Their performance was simply magical, with Mr. Davies' sustained tones floating on the air to spine-tingling effect. As the work progressed, it seemed that Mr. Davies was perhaps experiencing a slight indisposition - his lower range was not achieving full resonance - but his mastery of the voice allowed him to make a sublime effect in phrase after phrase. During the bows, the charismatic countertenor was sneezing and suppressing a cough. My diagnosis: allergies. That he still managed to make such a marvelous impression is testimony to his artistry.
I've become a great admirer of soprano Joélle Harvey in recent seasons, and tonight she sang with her customary warmth, clarity, and persuasive phrasing. She and Mr. Davies harmonized to radiant effect, including trading sustained, heavenly tones at one point. Sumner Thompson's baritone provided a fine contrast to the higher voices, and he sang with authority.
The concert ended, appropriately, with the anthem "The king shall rejoice," HWV 260, alive with some dazzling trumpets sounding, and a flurry of Alleluias to finish. The audience expressed their thanks for this glorious Handel evening with vociferous applause.
And now we await the coronation, the second such ritual in my lifetime.
~ Oberon