I have visited Namur in Belgium on numerous occasions to rehearse (often with Vox Luminis), but I had never before performed in Namur: it was great to rectify that situation, on Tuesday 28th May 2024, by performing Handel’s Jephtha [HWV 70] in Le Grand Manège (which has a wonderful acoustic) with Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset. This was the continuation of a project that began in Oslo in March, which once again featured the singers: Jeremy Ovenden (Jephtha), Deborah Cachet (Iphis), Sophie Harmsen (Storgé), Edwin Crossley-Mercer (Zebul), Tim Mead (Hamor), Lian Wei (Angel) and the Chœur de Chambre de Namur.

The project culminated with a final performance in the Händel-Festspiele Halle (Halle Handel Festival) on 30th May 2024. I’ve performed in this wonderful festival several times, with Opera Settecento, Solomon’s Knot, Festspiel Orchester Göttingen, and with Les Talens Lyriques on an earlier occasion.

We performed Jephtha in the Konzerthalle St. Ulrichskirche in Halle on 30 May 2024. The concert was recorded for later broadcast on Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR). Christophe was honoured with a festival award; the Haendel-Preis was awarded to him in recognition of his contribution to performing the works of Handel.

After the performance on 30 May, I stayed in Halle to rehearse and perform, as luck would have it, in the Halle Handel Festival; this time I will be playing with Barocktrompeten Ensemble Berlin (Berlin Baroque Trumpet Ensemble).