This album is perhaps the most definitive guide to this astonishing work yet published, celebrating the 300th anniversary of Handel’s great Brockes-Passion: a long-neglected masterpiece by this most brilliant composer, from a libretto by his friend, one of Germany’s leading poets.
The culmination of two years of scholarly research by a team of scholars and musicologists from the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King’s College London, Open University and more, working alongside Music Director Richard Egarr and editor Leo Duarte. Consulting 15 manuscript sources from 11 collections in 5 countries, this is the most substantial edition of this work yet, including as appendices extra movements and Charles Jennens’ partial English translation in their world premiere recordings.
A deluxe 220-page album booklet accompanies this release, featuring new contemporary artworks inspired by Handel’s Brockes-Passion, full notes, the first contemporary publication of the original Kurrentschrift text alongside the modern German libretto, a brand new English translation, several additional articles, details of the other composers’ take on Brockes’ visceral libretto, and much more.
Academy of Ancient Music recorded this new release around a 300th anniversary performance on Good Friday 2019 at London’s Barbican Hall.
