The chamber orchestra and its world-class singers - under founder William Christie - are known for creating one exciting project after another, and for performing familiar classical masterpieces with a fresh perspective, passion and unflagging exploratory spirit.

On this occasion, they perform the most famous work by George Frideric Handel, a composer whose music has featured so frequently during their almost four-decade career performing together at prestigious festivals, as well as on some 100 recordings.

The ensemble has already performed the hugely popular Messiah on numerous occasions. It is a mark of Christie's high standards and meticulous approach that when the ensemble recorded the oratorio in the early 1990s, no fewer than 15 language assistants helped the soloists and members of the chorus to attain the correct contemporary pronunciation.

Written in only around three weeks, the Messiah melds contemporary Italian, English and German styles and genres in bravura fashion to assemble a brilliantly colourful musical creation.

The acclaimed conductor and harpsichordist proceeded in the same painstaking manner when, having emigrated from the United States to France in the 1980s, he oversaw a historically faithful renovation of his 16th century house before moving in.

Since 2012, Christie has hosted his own festival in the gardens of the house, once the home of a wealthy Protestant family, which have been restored to their original state and allow him to simultaneously indulge in his dual passions of landscape gardening and music.

Date and time: 17 December 2016, Saturday, 7:30 pm — 10 pm
one interval

Venue: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall
Address: 1095 Budapest, Komor Marcell utca 1.

Ticket prices: HUF 4900 / HUF 6900 / HUF 9900 / HUF 12900 / HUF 16900

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