ALEXANDER'S FEAST
Handel
(1742 Dublin version)

Dramatic, evocative and heroic, Handel's 'Alexander's Feast' is a masterful blend of dramatic storytelling and vivid musical imagery. 

 

Originally composed by Handel in London in 1736, the work is a musical ode based on John Dryden's poem of the same name. It celebrates the power of music as it recounts an episode from the life of Alexander the Great.

 

Set during a grand feast in the city of Persepolis, Alexander and his lover, Thais, are entertained by the bard Timotheus. Through his music, Timotheus evokes a range of emotions in Alexander, from joy and love to sorrow and anger. Ultimately, the bard's stirring melodies inspire Alexander to burn the Persian capital as an act of vengeance for Greece. 

While Alexander's Feast itself was not premiered in Dublin, it was performed there during Handel's visit to the city—the same year he debuted his iconic 'Messiah'. The performance of Alexander's Feast in Dublin was met with great acclaim, reflecting the city's growing appreciation for Handel's works. This performance further cemented Handel's connection to Dublin, a city that embraced his music and sent him back to London in better health and fortune. 

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Join the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Peter Whelan and outstanding soloists to hear a reconstruction of the 1742 Dublin version, from a new edition prepared especially for the IBO. 

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