The famous Music for the Royal Fireworks was composed in 1749 by George Frideric Handel for the festivities honouring the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. To mark the occasion, King George II commissioned Handel to write festive music to accompany a grand fireworks display over the River Thames. Handel was then a living legend in England, and the magnificent music he composed made a great impression on the public. Expectations were enormous, and twelve thousand people flocked to the rehearsal, creating numerous incidents. The official performance on 27 April 1749 created a new musical order: some eighty instrumentalists were brought together to perform Handel’s masterpiece in an ‘open-air’ version. Wind instruments and percussion were in the limelight, but no string instruments, so the sound power was sufficient to compete with the sound of the fireworks !

Royal Opera Productions.

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
Water Music – First Suite

– Overture

– [without indication]

– [without indication]

– Air

– Hornpipe

Ariodante

– Duet « Bramo aver mille vite » – Marie Zaccarini and Camille Brault

– « Voli colla sua tromba » – Alexandre Adra

Water Music – Second Suite

– Overture

– Alla hornpipe

– Bourrée

Water Music – Third Suite

– Minuet

– Rigaudon

– Minuet

– Country Dances Nos. 1 and 2

Ariodante : « Dopo notte » – Camille Brault
Rinaldo : « Fermati… no crudel » – Marie Zaccarini and Camille Brault

Interval

Serse

– Overture

– « Ombra mai fu » – Camille Brault

Music for the Royal Fireworks

– Overture

– Bourrée

– La Paix

– La Réjouissance

– Minuet I

– Minuet II

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PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

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