Last year saw the debut of the festival’s own orchestra, under the direction of Nicholas McGegan. Every year the Göttingen Festival stages outstanding productions of Handel’s operas and oratorios, the main choice this year being Giulio Cesare, which will be conducted by McGegan. It will also present the world premiere of the pasticcio Giove en Argo, a work that has not previously been staged in modern times.

In addition to these two operas, the festival will also include performances of the oratorios Solomon and Belshazzar. Giulio Cesare is scheduled for 24, 27 and 29 May; Giove en Argo, conducted by Alan Curtis, will be performed on 28 May; Solomon on 25, 26 and 27 May, and Belshazzar on 26 May. These are not the only works by Handel included in the programme, however, as there will also be performances of some of the composer’s best known works, such as Messiah, on 20 May, and the only passion Handel wrote to a German text, the Passion Oratorio, also known as “Brockes” oratorio, on 23 May.

Alongside these major productions, the festival offers a number of other excellent concerts. On 18 May, for instance, Dominique Labelle and Christian Quadflieg will appear with the Göttinger Symphony Orchestra. On 22 May there will be a concert performed by Red Priest, and on 24 May Camerata Köln will take the platform. There are two concerts scheduled for 25 May - one by Cantus Cölln, with Konrad Junghänel, and an organ recital by Stefan Kordes.

On 26 May Bob van Asperen will give a harpsichord concert and there is a recital of Italian and German arias with the soprano Bettina Pahn. On 28 May the Winchester Cathedral Boys’ Choir will perform with the Göttinger Knabenchor and an organ recital will be given by Ton Koopman. The festival draws to a close with a concert by Alan Curtis. The Göttingen Festival is undoubtedly one of the most attractive annual Baroque music festivals in the world today, as amply demonstrated by this year’s excellent programme.