Handel's pastoral sings, dances and laughs at the Barbican

By Roy Westbrook, 15 March 2022

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“Handel’s many instrumental cameos added much to the gaiety of the occasion”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 14 March 2022

Handel, L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato, HWV 55

Les Arts Florissants

William Christie, Conductor

Leo Jemison, Boy soprano

Rachel Redmond, Soprano

James Way, Tenor

Sreten Manojlovic, Bass-baritone

Les Arts Florissants play an abbreviated Christmas Oratorio in Paris

Simon Thompson, 13th December

Vigour and vibrato: Les Arts Florissant bring gallic refinement to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Philharmonie de Paris.

****1

Gesualdo Passione with Les Arts Florissants

David Karlin, 16th October

Fusing the Renaissance polyphony of Les Arts Florissants with the contemporary dance of Compagnie Amala Dianor was an ambitious experiment, which displayed great virtues but didn't quite come off.

***11

Pop goes Purcell: Les Arts Flo serve up an intoxicating cocktail

Michelle Assay, 11th July

The Toronto Summer Music Festival opens with Les Arts Florissants’ enchanting performance of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, featuring the singers of Le Jardin des voix and the dancers of Compagnie Käfig.

*****

Epiphany meditation from Paul Agnew and Les Arts Florissants

David Karlin, 5th January

In the intimate setting of Lauenen Church, Agnew and Les Arts Florissants introduce us to the austere sound world of Marc-Antoine Charpentier and other French composers of 17th-century sacred music.

***11

Les Arts Florissants dazzle in Handel’s Partenope in Lucerne

Laura Servidei, 3rd September

William Christie leads his legendary orchestra and a group of young singers in a successful performance of Handel’s semi-serious opera.

***11

Titon et l'Aurore: flying sheep at the Opéra Comique

Philippe Ramin, 21st January

In Basil Twist's staging of Titon et l'Aurore, William Christie shows the breadth of his talent in 18th century French repertoire, conducting an cast which excels in both main and supporting roles.

*****

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Handel's pastoral sings, dances and laughs: Les Arts Florissants in L'Allegro at the Barbican