"God save the King!" - Handel

The long tradition of musicians attached to princes or kings tends to prove that music was for a long time an essential element in establishing political power.

Handel was no exception to the rule, and both the Coronation Anthems, composed for the coronation of George II, and the Dettingen Te Deum, which celebrates England's victory over the French army at Dettingen in 1743, were intended to reinforce the power of the English crown.
In fact, the two pieces in this concert successfully fulfilled this role, as the rehearsals of the Coronation Anthems attracted an unprecedented number of enthusiastic onlookers. Generating enthusiasm and amazement for the powers that be is what makes music so indispensable to princes. The Coronation Anthems and the Dettingen Te Deum appeal above all to the listener's senses. By playing on energy, they seek to provoke in the audience a physical, unanimous and enthusiastic support that they could not obtain by addressing the intellect alone.

C’est sa propre vision de ces pièces « à grand spectacle » que le fondateur du Concert Spirituel, fort de son expertise du répertoire haendélien (son interprétation de Water Music & Music for the Royal Fireworks a remporté l’Edison Award, et se joue régulièrement devant des milliers de spectateurs à l’international, son Messie, à peine paru chez Alpha, était élu “BBC Radio 3’s Record Review of the Week”) souhaite aujourd’hui proposer. Le chœur et l’orchestre du Concert Spirituel promettent une soirée passionnante, au début détonnant grâce à de spectaculaires marches pour tambours et trompettes.

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This programme has been recorded and is available on Alpha Classics / Outhere music under the title Coronation Anthems more info here

‍MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL | la presse en parle >> compte-rendu du concert par Emmanuel Deroeux pour Olyrix