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Upcoming Events Along the West Coast

We will strive to be your eyes and ears and to update this page whenever performances come along. But your help is always required, so if you know of any Handel-related events not listed here, please email us at so we can add them. Include a link and whatever information you can about the location, cost, and dates.

April 1st, 2012 - Handel's Israel in Egypt will be performed in Vancouver, Washington by the Bravo! Chorale and the Washington Chamber Orchestra. Of all Handel' Oratorios, Israel in Egypt is known for being the most epic, consisting mostly of choruses of great variety and technical virtuosity. It depicts the events told in the book of Exodus, from the plagues sent against Egypt to the miracle at the Red Sea. For more information visit the Bravo! website at http://www.bravoconcerts.com.

***Past Events***

January 13th-16th, 2012 - Handel's Royal Fireworks music was performed in Salem and Portland by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. For more info visit their website here here.

July 9th, 2011 - As part of the Oregon Bach Festival there was a performance of Handel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day in Portland at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. To sweeten the deal, it was paired with Beethoven's 9th Symphony. St. Cecilia was the patron saint of music, and it was common in England to write works celebrating her festival day. Handel's contribution is perhaps the greatest ever written. More info at the Oregon Bach Festival page.

March, 2011 - Handel Festival in Seattle. In one of the most exciting local events in years, the American Handel Festival was held in Seattle. Performances included Acis and Galatea, Esther, Dixit Dominus, and many smaller concerts that include works of other composers. There were also workshops and conferences organized by the American Handel Society.

December, 2010 - Two productions of Messiah by the Portland Baroque Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra helped usher in the holiday season.

November 26th and 27th, 2010 - Organ works with the PBO and guest organist Richard Egarr. The show included some of his other concerti, including Opus 3, Number 2 (a favorite of mine). Visit the PBO website for info on their upcoming concerts.

November, 2010 - Rodelinda with Pacific Opera Victoria. Handel's opera Rodelinda was performed in Victoria, British Columbia by a stellar cast. It is one of his finest operas, and excerpts from it can be found in our Playlist of Handel Opera Arias. Check out the website of Pacific Opera Victoria for info on their other shows.

December 18th-20st, 2009 - Annual Messiah concerts from the Portland Baroque Orchestra. Always a great show, and a tradition that everyone should observe, especially in this 250th anniversary year. For more info on their concert schedule visit www.pbo.org.

November 21, 23, 25, 28, December 1, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA - The LA Opera performed Tamerlano, another of Handel's most famous operas, about a tyrant and the effects his actions have on his subjects. The famous tenor Placido Domingo played the role of Bajazet, whom Tamerlano has taken captive. Humiliated, Bajazet is driven to take his own life in one of opera's most memorable death scenes. Domingo has played the role to mostly glowing reviews, though many purists feel he is not adequately trained in baroque conventions. For more about the LA Opera, visit their website

October 2nd and 3rd 2009 – Portland Vocal Consort sang the Dixit Dominus at two concerts in Portland and Forest Grove, along with music by Haydn. It was a good show, and hopefully we might hear more Handel from them soon. More info here.

April 18, 19, 24, 25 – Nicolas McGegan conducted the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in four performances of Handel's oratorio Athalia, one of Handel's earlier great English works. The soloists were excellent (particularly Robin Blaze as Joad), and the music was glorious. Once again they proved why Philharmonia productions of Handel should never be missed. It was well worth making the trip again this year. For more on their music visit philharmonia.org.

December 18th-21st 2008 - Annual Messiah concerts from the Portland Baroque Orchestra. The PBO performed the complete Messiah on the 20th and 21st despite harsh weather conditions that shut down much of the city. The show was lovely as always, and the guest conductor this year was the very energetic Alexander Weimann, who made it very memorable. For more info on their concert schedule visit www.pbo.org.

December 7th 2008 - The OSU Symphony Orchestra gave a performance of Handel's Dixit Dominus in Corvallis, Oregon. The Dixit Dominus is a Psalm setting that Handel wrote early in his career. It is considered a very challenging work, and one of his first masterpieces. The performance was fantastic, and a great example of Handel's dramatic choral style. For more info on the OSU Symphony Orchestra, visit their website.

November 2008 - The Portland Baroque Orchestra gave three concerts of "Pergolesi, Naples, and Julius Caesar" the weekend of Nov. 21st - 23rd. It focused on the Italian Baroque, and included soloists singing excerpts from Handel's Giulio Cesare. The guest conductor Nicholas McGegan heads the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco (see several of the entries below). It was a great show, with a lovely duet from Rodelinda as an encore.

April 2008 - The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra played music of Handel and Purcell at their program entitled "Coronation and Victory" April 3rd-6th. It was quite a show, and well worth the rather long Greyhound trip. The conductor was Nicholas McGegan, and both Handel's Zadok the Priest and Dettingen Te Deum were performed. To learn more about the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, visit their website.

February 2008 - The Portland Opera performed Rodelinda, considered one of Handel’s finest. For further details on the Portland Opera Company, visit their official site here. The show was quite enjoyable, and more info on it can be found in our opera section.

December 24th-28th - Bill McGlaughlin hosted a week of Handel-themed shows. His show Exploring Music airs at 11:00 PM Monday through Friday on 89.9 All Classical KBPS. While it was nice to hear excerpts from Handel that were not from his Messiah, the show contained very little from Handel's oratorios or choral works, which was regrettable. Then again, there is only so much one can do in a week. Visit the Exploring Music website for more information on the program.

December 2007 - As per their tradtion, the Portland Baroque Orchestra gave performances of the complete Messiah, and excerpts from it with other Christmas music at four concerts. Monica Huggett led the PBO and Capella Romana, along with guest soloists. For more information about their future concerts, visit the the PBO at www.pbo.org.

August 2007 - The University of British Columbia in Vancouver hosted a performance of La Resurrezione on August 11th, as part of their Early Music Festival. For more info visit their website. It was an excellent show, demonstrating one of Handel's earliest dramas. In some respects this piece is his first oratorio, as it was intended for performance without staging. The soloists were excellent and the music sounded glorious.

April 2007 - The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco performed the oratorio Belshazzar (aka Belshazzar’s Feast). Their conductor is Nicholas McGegan. McGegan is widely admired, and has previously conducted Susanna, Theodora, Judas Macabbaeus, and many others large works by Handel. I found it an absolutely thrilling show, and it is one of Handel's finest oratorios. To learn more about the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, visit their website.

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