Yale In NY Announces William Christie And An All-Handel Evening at Zankel

On Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 7:30pm in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, the Yale School of Music continues its 2011-12 YALE IN NEW YORK concert series with AN EVENING OF HANDEL WITH WILLIAM CHRISTIE, an opportunity to hear a diverse program entirely dedicated to the music of George Frideric Handel, led by the Baroque music specialist, founder of Les Arts Florissants and Yale School of Music alumnus. 

Christie returns to his alma mater to conduct the Yale Philharmonia, which is joined by the new professional choral ensemble, the Yale Choral Artists, and by the acclaimed continuo player Arthur Haas. Note: four members of this year's Yale Baroque Ensemble, all specialists in historical performance practice, will be the orchestra's principal string players for this Handel concert.

The evening's program highlights a wide variety of music by Handel and includes the overture to Solomon; the funeral anthem for Queen Caroline The Ways of Zion Do Mourn; the Coronation Anthem No. 3: The King Shall Rejoice; and the extended complete six movements of Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 6, HWV 324.

While Christie's pioneering work has led to a renewed appreciation of Baroque music in France, notably of 17th- and 18th-century French repertoire, he has received as much critical acclaim for his performances of works by other European composers, including Purcell and Handel. These include productions of Handel's Theodora and Rodelinda at the Glyndebourne opera festival, the latter of which was revived at the Théâtre du Châtelet in 2002.

The Yale Philharmonia has been featured on the Yale in New York series in concerts at Carnegie Hall with both the great Krzysztof Penderecki and Reinbert de Leeuw. 

Arthur Haas has recorded and performed alongside Alan Curtis and William Christie, as well as Julianne Baird, Laurence Dreyfus, and Dawn Upshaw.

The evening will also mark the premiere performance for the Yale Choral Artists, a recently formed ensemble comprised of leading professional singers from around the country and directed by Yale faculty member Jeffrey Douma. Since 2003, Douma has directed the undergraduate Yale Glee Club.

Tickets at $15–$25 can be purchased at the Carnegie Hall box office (57th Street and 7th Ave.),
by calling CarnegieCharge at 212/247-7800, or at www.carnegiehall.org.
Student and senior discounts are available.