Celebrating a lifetime with Handel …
A whole lot of Handel: Celebrating Nic's five decades exploring the depths of the composer's music
London is abuzz with excitement over the recent reopening of Handel's London home. After three years of renovations, the Mayfair district rowhouse in which Handel lived for 36 years is astonishing to behold.
Now known as Handel Hendrix House — a nod to Jimi Hendrix, the famous American guitarist who lived next door to the Handel home in the late 1960s — the space has been lovingly and meticulously restored, complete with art, furniture, and decor original to the house, including two tea cups on the parlor table.
One of the big projects has been to restore the kitchen. Handel was very fond of his food. The kitchen will be the only working Georgian example in England.
The reopening of Handel's residence has brought to mind the many recordings Nic has made of the composer's incredible body of work. Over five decades, Nic has released more than 50 albums of Handel's music, from operas to oratorios and collections of famous arias. Here are three favorites to rediscover.
Handel Arias with Avery Amereau
Nic's most recent recording of Handel, in which he leads Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, shines a light on the spectacular arias Handel composed for contralto and mezzo-soprano roles. Breathing life into these virtuosic, passionate moments of sublime music is Avery Amereau, described by The New York Times as "an extraordinary American alto on the rise."
Fire & Water
Aside from the immortal Messiah, most music lovers likely know Handel's work thanks to the music he wrote for two royal occasions that called for quite a bit of pomp and circumstance. The Water Music suites and Music for the Royal Fireworks featured on this release display everything you love about Handel's orchestral writing: plenty of pageantry in the brass and kettledrums, wind chorales both playful and triumphant, and vibrant dances fueled by shimmering strings.
Ariodante
If you're looking to dive into Handel's operas, Ariodante is a fabulous place to start your journey. Featuring a powerhouse cast led by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and Juliana Gondek, this recording sees Nic lead the Freiburger Barockorchester with his typical verve and flair, as they navigate Handel's rollercoaster tale of love, lies, and redemption. This recording won a Gramophone Award in the UK.
Coming up this summer …
Aspen Music Festival
Aspen Chamber Symphony (July 7)Aspen Music Festival
A Baroque Evening with Nicholas McGegan (July 13)Blossom Music Festival
The Cleveland Orchestra (August 12)Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles Philharmonic (September 5)