Baroque Orchestra Opens 2017 Season with HANDEL'S MESSIAH

"Handel was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head, and kneel before his tomb." That's what Beethoven said about Handel, the great master of the baroque and composer of what must surely be the world's most performed concert work, the oratorio, Messiah.

"The iconic Hallelujah chorus is guaranteed to fill your hearts with joy. Who doesn't experience an endorphin rush when they hear or perform it?" asks Paul Dyer, Brandenburg's Artistic Director.

"The Messiah brings people such overwhelming pleasure and it is easy to understand its phenomenal popularity."

The Messiah was first performed almost 275 years ago in Dublin, where women were urged to wear dresses without hoops and men not to carry swords, to they could fit more people into the Musik Hall. It still fills recital halls around the globe and is a tradition for concertgoers across all ages.

"Many people know Messiah well, but the Brandenburg's won't be your standard concert presentation of it," says Paul Dyer. "I'm planning a production which will be a fitting and spectacular opening to our 2017 season!"

Australia's leading baroque orchestra will play baroque's greatest hit for the first time in Sydney and Melbourne from 22 February, in what will be a heavenly synthesis of the Brandenburg Choir, Orchestra and shining young vocal soloists.

Paul has signed up an international line-up of soloists for his first Brandenburg Messiah:

Lucía Martín-Cartón - Spanish soprano is one of the early music industry's brightest young stars. She was the winner of the Renata Tebaldi International Voice Competition and toured Australia in 2015 as a guest artist with Les Arts Florissant.

Nicholas Spanos - Greek countertenor who has won Best Young Artist of the Year in Greece and whose recording in the title role of Handel's Tamerlano won the prestigious ECHO Klassik Award.

Kyle Bielfield - Sydney-based American tenor is a Masters graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. He has performed in opera in the US and Canada, and recorded an album of music by American composers for the Delos label. His career straddles classical and pop/electronic music and he is signed to Sony Music Australia under his pop alter ego and stage name Bielfield.

David Greco - Australian baritone is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in The Netherlands and has recently returned to Sydney after eight years study and work in Europe. He recently shone in his role of The Engineer in Opera Australia's Sydney Opera House - The Opera, performed on the steps of the iconic building. David has a long association with the Brandenburg; he returned to Australia to perform as a soloist on numerous occasions and as a young singer, he was a member of the Brandenburg Choir. His brother Matthew Greco is a violinist in Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

www.brandenburg.com.au

Paul Dyer AO conductor & artistic director
Lucia Martin-Carton (Spain) soprano
Nicholas Spanos (Greece) alto
Kyle Bielfield (USA/Australia) tenor
David Greco (Australia) bass
Brandenburg Choir
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra