Bach in Baltimore Presents a Handel Festival

The Bach in Baltimore Choir and Orchestra, joined by the Maryland State Boychoir, is thrilled to present our Handel Festival on Sunday, May 1 at 4 pm at the Church of the Resurrection, 11525 Greenspring Ave., Lutherville. Join us for an exuberant performance of Handel’s famous works, including the Coronation Anthems Zadok the Priest, The King Shall Rejoice, as well as the festive Music for Royal Fireworks and selections from Water Music. These joyful and celebratory compositions made Handel a legend in his own time and secured his place as one of the greatest composers the world has ever known.

Handel’s Coronation Anthems were initially composed for the coronation of Great Britain’s King George II in 1727, but they have been used ever since for the coronation ceremonies of successive British monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth, the longest-standing monarch in Great Britain’s history. Traditionally, Zadok the Priest is performed during the sovereign’s anointing. The joyful The King Shall Rejoice follows, ending in a closing “Alleluia” played at the precise moment the king or queen is crowned.

The Handel Festival also include the band suite The Music for the Royal Fireworks. Handel composed this work to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. It premiered with fireworks in London’s Green Park for an audience of over 12,000 in 1749. Water Music is an ebullient collection of orchestral movements commissioned by King George. It premiered on July 17, 1717, on the River Thames.

After the concert, Bach in Baltimore invites concert attendees to a FREE soiree to conclude Bach in Baltimore’s annual 12th annual Bachfest auction! Light fare and beverages provided by Panache Fine Catering will be served in a gallery setting of artworks by local artists.

Admissions for our Handel Festival are $35 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children under twelve. Tickets must be purchased in advance, online at BachinBaltimore.org, or by calling 410-941-9262. Tickets will not be sold at the door to ensure touchless transactions. All patrons will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test before admission into the venue. Please read our full Health and Safety measures online at https://bachinbaltimore.org/safety/.