2_0_DiscoverGermany_Issue30_September2015:Scan Magazine 1
28/8/15
10:22
Page 42
Left: Handel House Top: Festival Handel in Autumn Below: Handel Monument in Halle
Find Handel in Halle – where else? 330 years ago a prodigy was born in Halle to bestow upon humankind the ever so inspiring Baroque music: George Frideric Handel. His mastery continues to move people even today. The Handel House Foundation, who are coming up the annual highlight: the Handel Festival, creates a unique experience of this musical genius that suits visitors of any age. TEXT: BENEDIKT MEININGER | PHOTOS: THOMAS ZIEGLER
“The most incredible thing about Handel is that we know so little and yet so much about one of the most frequently portrayed composers of his time,” marvels Clemens Birnbaum, director of the Handel House Foundation. However, his birthplace was identified without doubt, which today belongs to a foundation that sees a total of 90,000 interested visitors taking to the museum as well as the Handel Festival annually. Handel was the composer of the Coronation Anthems that has backed every English monarch’s coronation ceremony since George II.“Handel has managed to put a magic touch to his pieces that continues to have an effect on people,” Birnbaum remarks. Even today everybody knows at least two of his mighty and magnificent
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compositions, just think of the Champions League anthem, or the world famous Hallelujah from Handel’s Messiah. The authentic place “In Halle alone you can feel the historic shiver, that authentic feeling, of walking where Handel has walked, see and hear the organ on which Handel learnt to play music,” Birnbaum continues. In Handel House a vivid culture of remembering this great son of Halle finds its place as well as sharing music knowledge. Guests may rejoice in the collection of classical music instruments while children can experience sound experiments or watch Handel age in a digital morphing portrait. Regularly, the elderly gather to delve into discussions about the beautiful mind their city has brought forth.
Twice a year the Handel House Foundation goes to great lengths and sets up Handel Festivals. The smaller one, due every November, is called ‘Handel in Autumn’. This year it takes place from 20-22 November and tickets are still available online.The big festival, one of the oldest European baroque music festivals, will cover three weekends in the beginning of June, when you may indulge in a resounding variety of masterpieces by Handel and others. A living Handel culture in an authentic place welcomes you to come and find your Handel in Halle. www.handel-house.com