Saul
Soloists Neal Davies and Iestyn Davies join period-instrument orchestra The English Concert for a concert performance of Handel's masterpiece of Baroque vocal music.
Neal Davies takes the title role in Handel’s Saul, joining Iestyn Davies, and exemplary period-instrument orchestra The English Concert under conductor John Butt for a concert performance of one of the true masterpieces of Baroque vocal music.
Saul is an opera in all but name, containing some of the composer’s most vivid music, and one of the largest, most colourful orchestrations he ever wrote. It tells of the first King of Israel’s early admiration and later envy and hatred towards his successor, David, and David’s love for Saul’s son Jonathan, in moving arias and powerful choruses that chart a cathartic journey from triumph to tragedy.
Sung in English with supertitles.
With support from
The English Concert
John Butt Conductor
Neal Davies Saul
Iestyn Davies David
Andrew Haji Jonathan
James Gilchrist High Priest
Sophie Bevan Merab
Liv Redpath Michal
Handel Saul
Please note: for health reasons, Bernard Labadie has withdrawn from conducting our performance of Saul. We are very grateful to John Butt, who has agreed to step in to conduct.