Halle (dpa/sa) - The 100th Handel Festival is scheduled to begin on Friday (7 p.m.) at the Halle Opera with a new production of the opera "Orlando". The internationally renowned baroque festival offers 67 events over 17 days, said festival director Clemens Birnbaum. In addition to classical music, innovative events are also planned. At a large open-air concert, for example, there should be a bridge between Handel's baroque music and a symphonic rock concert. The star guest is Robert Hart, singer of Manfred Mann's Earth Band. A poetry slam is also planned.
The composer Georg Friedrich Handel was born in Halle on February 23, 1685. He lived mostly in London, where he died on April 14, 1759. To this day, Handel's "Fireworks Music" is played all over the world. The church music piece "Messiah" is one of the famous works in the baroque composer's rich opera and oratorio oeuvre.
