Sophie Junker Stars in International Handel Festival Göttingen 2026

(Photo credit: Padraig Grant) The International Handel Festival Göttingen announces its 2026 lineup. Sophie Junker takes on the title role in Händel’s “Deidamia.” The Handel specialist is joined by Nicolò Balducci, Bruno de Sá, Sarah Gilford, Rory Musgrave, and Fenice Petros. The Göttingen University Chamber Choir is led by Antonius Adamske. George Petrou conducts the Göttingen Festival Orchestra. Giorgina Germanou and Ernst {…}

Jun 13, 2025

International Händel Festival Göttingen 2025 Review: Solomon

(Photo: Alciro Theodoro Da Silva) This year’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen got under way with a splendid concert performance of the composer’s 1748 oratorio “Solomon,” to a libretto based on accounts from the Old Testament Books of Kings, Chronicles and Song of Solomon with additional material from Josephus, although the name of the librettist is unknown. Unlike a number {…}

Mar 20, 2025

Q & A: Artistic Director & Conductor George Petrou on This Season’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen

(Photo: FreddieF) This year’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen kicks off on May 16th and will run until May 25th. The festival will present a range of events dedicated to the composer, including lectures, concerts, recitals, and readings, along with the eighth edition of its Händel competition. The centerpiece of the festival will be five staged performances of the composer’s {…}

Mar 20, 2025

Q & A: Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi on This Year’s Wexford Festival & Productions for the Händel Festival in Göttingen & the Rossini Festival in Pesaro

(Photo: Armati Bacciardi) Over the next few months, OperaWire will be reviewing a number of productions at a variety of festivals across the globe. One name that keeps cropping up, at least in Europe, is that of Rosetta Cucchi. Blessed with a never-ending supply of energy and ideas, she always has one project on the go with others in the {…}

Oct 6, 2021

International Handel Festival Göttingen 2021 Review: Ariodante

(Photo: Theodore da Silva) Just behind Göttingen train station is the Lokhalle, a large industrial building built between 1917 and 1920, which until 1976 was used for repairing locomotives, when it was closed and sold for development. Fortunately, it was not demolished along with the other buildings on the site. Instead, it was converted into an events center which, among {…}

Sep 16, 2021

International Handel Festival Göttingen 2021 Review: Rodelinda

(Photo: Alciro Theodore da Silva) The relationship of art to society is a complex and ever-changing one. At times it is used to support the dominant values of the elite as was the case with the 17th and 18th century baroque, whilst during other periods, it sets itself up in opposition to society, underpinned by varying degrees of revolutionary intent. {…}

International Handel Festival Gottingen