Singer

Laurence Cummings directs Academy of Ancient Music and a world-class cast in a concert performance of Serse – Handel’s sensational opera of love and power in ancient Persia.

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Handel's Serse

Barbican Centre

Xerxes rules over a vast empire, but the human heart is a lot harder to tame, and sometimes the beauty of a plane tree is the only constant in a dangerous world. Created to astonish London audiences in 1738, Handel’s opera Serse is an epic of love, war and civil engineering - and its hit aria 'Ombra mai fu' is one of those melodies that you simply never forget.

JS Bach’s Magnificat in D is one of the best-loved works in the choral repertoire. Taken from Luke’s gospel, the text is the Virgin Mary’s canticle celebrating her pregnancy with the promised Messiah. In his magnificent setting, Bach amplifies the voice of an ordinary young woman as she responds to the astounding news that she would give birth to the Son of God.

Mozart’s Litaniae Lauretanae, a devotional to Mary written when he was only fifteen, showcases energy and sensitive artistry, with dynamic mood shifts capturing both reverence and exuberance.

Bach: Magnificat in D

Cadogan Hall 

The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists perform Bach’s masterpiece with Olivier Award winner Peter Whelan.

The crowning glory of Bach's first Leipzig cantata cycle, his revolutionary St John Passion changed the course of liturgical music history, stamping his interpretation of the gospel in his largest-scale work to date.

The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists have shaped modern audiences' understanding of this music for over 60 years with vivid and compelling performances. Baroque specialist Peter Whelan returns to direct the ensembles, after a critically-acclaimed debut with them in 2024.

Bach: St John Passion

Palau de la Música Catalana

Müpa Budapest

St Martin-in-the-Fields

Les Arts Florissants’ new production of Purcell’s masterpiece invites us to plunge into an enchanting and playful universe — an enchanted forest where reality mingles with dreams, illusion, and the supernatural, as young people gather to indulge in the magic of nature. As the tunes and dances unfold, the boundaries between dancers, singers, and musicians become blurred … leading to the creation of an egalitarian and fraternal community, united by the joy of music. Renowned for his fusion of classical influence and contemporary innovation, French-Algerian choreographer Mourad Merzouki’s staging promises a unique, visually spectacular, and emotionally powerful evening.

Mezzo-soprano

Rebecca Leggett

Events

Past events

Jun 19, 2026

Handel's Serse · Academy of Ancient Music

Jun 19, 2026

Handel's Serse · Barbican Centre

Future and recently performed repertoire

Arsamene in Serse by Handel

Academy of Ancient Music

Singer in St John Passion by Bach

English Baroque Soloists

Singer in Dettingen Te Deum, HWV283 by Handel

Cadogan Hall

Singer in Litaniae Lauretanae, K.109 by Mozart

Cadogan Hall

Singer in Magnificat in D, BWV 243 by Bach

Cadogan Hall

About

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