Sat 28.11.
Landestheater Linz, Linz
Agrippina
Baroque opera by Handel about the life and intrigues of Agrippina the Elder, mother of Emperor Nero.
George Frideric Handel
About
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was a German-born composer who settled in England and became one of the defining figures of the late Baroque era. Born in Halle, he worked in Hamburg and Italy before making London his permanent home, eventually becoming a British subject. His output spans roughly 50 operas, 30 oratorios, and a large body of orchestral and chamber music - among them the Messiah (1741), Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Beethoven called him the greatest composer who ever lived, and his birthplace Halle has held an annual festival in his honour since the early 20th century.
80+
events at the 2026 Händel-Festspiele Halle
~50
operas composed
~30
oratorios composed
What's new
- 2026-06
The 2026 Händel-Festspiele in Halle concluded with a positive attendance report; the next edition is scheduled for 3-13 June 2027 under the theme 'Loneliness. Am I myself alone?'
- 2026-06
The 2026 Händel-Festspiele in Halle (5-14 June) featured over 80 events at 27 venues under the theme 'Masculinities: Heroes, Rulers, Heartbreakers', with new artistic director Florian Amort at the helm for the first time.
- 2026-06
Conductor and countertenor René Jacobs received the 2026 Händel-Preis of the city of Halle, awarded by the Stiftung Händel-Haus.
- 2026-06
The 2026 festival opened with a new production of Handel's opera Rinaldo, directed by Walter Sutcliffe and conducted by Michael Hofstetter at the Halle Opera House.
- 2025-12
Messiah was performed by the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists under Christophe Rousset in 2025, launching a planned series of MCO Handel oratorio performances.
Tracks
MessiahOratorio (1741) - one of the most performed choral works in the world; premiered Dublin 1742
Water MusicOrchestral suite (1717), written for a royal boat outing on the Thames
Music for the Royal FireworksOrchestral suite (1749), a perennial concert-hall staple
RinaldoOpera (1711), Handel's London debut; revived at the 2026 Händel-Festspiele Halle
Judas MaccabaeusOratorio (1746), among his most celebrated English-language choral works
Upcoming · 1