Name: 4th Concert of the Handel Festival Orchestra
Start: 2026-06-06T19:00:00
Location: Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle

Attilio Cremonesi

Staatskapelle Halle

Andreas Beinhauer takes on the role of the witty bird seller, who guides the audience through Mozart's most famous opera in this version. In Foyer 2 of the opera house, the children are right in the thick of the action and are drawn into the performance by Papageno – whether as a tree or a snake, forest animals, or Papagena and Papageno's children. It's a vibrant and colorful spectacle, musically superb. A wonderful opportunity for preschool children to experience musical theatre for the first time.

Papageno plays the magic flute

Bühnen Halle

A quirky comedy of oversized egos in a dysfunctional first family brought the 24-year-old Handel his breakthrough in the Italian opera scene, and thus in the world. Sparkling melodies and hair-raising turf wars made him "everybody's darling" in the "Las Vegas" of the 18th century – Venice was then Europe's number one entertainment capital. His nickname "Il caro Sassone – Our dear Saxon" came about with "Agrippina." “In every second without music, clapping and shouts of ‘Viva il caro Sassone – Long live the dear Saxon!’ and other expressions of applause, too exaggerated to quote here, shook the theater,” reported John Mainwaring. “Everyone was astonished by the grandeur and sublimity of his style, for until then no one here had heard anything remotely resembling such powerful harmonies and such dense modulations, combined in such a magical way.”

Agrippina

Halle Opera House

Welcome to the enchanting world of Baby Shark & ​​Crawling Concerts – a special musical experience for the very youngest and their caregivers! Under the sensitive direction of harpist Ursula Heins, a safe space is created where babies and toddlers can experience music in a very direct way.

Baby shark concert

Peißnitzhaus

A traveling journeyman, through his flute playing and with the help of a musical mechanism built by Master Florian, prevents a rather decadent princess from being lynched by her own people.

The Music Box and the Princess

Opera Café

Arthur Honegger's poignant oratorio "Joan of Arc at the Stake" movingly portrays the final hours of the French national heroine. Condemned as a heretic, the young woman remains steadfast to the very end – a symbol of civil courage, faith, and inner strength.

8th Symphony Concert

Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle

Adam is a young American who grew up in Germany. His parents work for the US armed forces, so after returning to the United States, it seems natural for him to join the Army. But the war he is sent to traumatizes him. He spirals downward and becomes addicted to drugs, from which he struggles to break free. When he also falls seriously ill, he contemplates suicide. Only his encounter with a young woman who cares for him gives him renewed courage and a will to live. Together with his new love, Adam makes a fresh start.

Adam

A festively decorated hall, round tables with excellent views of the orchestra and singers, freshly brewed coffee, and delicious cake: the Pavilion Concerts invite you to a special musical experience again this season. Look forward to lively waltzes, Nordic melodies, springtime tunes, and the magic of operetta – charming, entertaining, and always atmospheric. A musical afternoon for connoisseurs!

5th Pavilion Concert

Steintor-Varieté

Jerusalem during the Crusades: The Christian knights prepare for battle, but their plans are thwarted by the Saracen king Argante and the powerful sorceress Armida. Rinaldo is particularly devastated when his beloved Almirena is abducted. Armida, disguised as Almirena, attempts to seduce him and win him over to her side. Caught between love, duty, and temptation, Rinaldo becomes a pawn in a game of opposing forces. Will he be able to resist the allure of power and magic?

Rinaldo

This concert series is a must for connoisseurs and enthusiasts: chamber music at its finest – subtle, intimate, and full of discoveries. Alongside the great masters of Viennese Classicism, the Handel Festival Orchestra, with its historically informed sound, will also be featured.