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Presented by Catherine Bott.

As part of a special week of Handel concerts marking the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus directed by Richard Egarr perform Alexander's Feast.

Written as a St Cecilia's Day ode to a text by Dryden, it has the alternate title The Power of Music, and follows the long-standing tradition of Purcell, Blow and others in writing choral works celebrating the patron saint of music. It was Handel's first step away from Italian opera, of which London audiences were beginning to grow tired. Here was a new style of dramatic work in English, and it became very popular in his own time.

Handel: Alexander's Feast

Lucy Crowe (soprano)
Timothy Robinson (tenor)
Christopher Purves (bass-baritone)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus
Richard Egarr (director)

Plus a visit to the Gerald Coke Handel Collection with Sarah Walker and excerpts from the Keyboard Suites, specially recorded by harpsichordist Laurence Cummings.