The Life and Music of George Frideric Handel
A concert entertainment

Benedict Hoffnung and David Blackadder
have always been passionate about the music of Handel and it was the 250th anniversary of his death that acted as the catalyst for their project Divine Music for Trumpets and Voices, a unique celebration of the composer’s life and music.
Designed to appeal to a broad demographic Divine Music for Trumpets and Voices is an appreciation of the grand baroque.
With an actor depicting the elderly Handel, choir, orchestra, soloists and a stunning array of baroque trumpeters (The London Trumpet Choir) raise the spirit of Handel to share his life experiences with the audience through a series of personal narratives. Colorful childhood reminiscences are followed by recollections of time spent in Germany, his love affair with Italy and his arrival in Georgian London.

Dialogue is interspersed with music taken from Handel’s prodigious output of opera oratorio and orchestral music. Regal splendour combines with spine tingling excitement as the great choruses, thrilling and captivating, are enhanced by a choir of baroque trumpets.

Recent featured concerts have included a special performance for the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House and a concert staged in the Chapel at Marlborough College for The Duchess of Cornwall. Other venues in London have included St Martin’s in the Fields, and the Grosvenor Chapel Mayfair. Further performances around the UK have wowed audiences and critics alike.

Actors taking the role of Handel have so far have included:
Simon Russell Beale
Alex Jennings
Harry Enfield
John Bromley-Davenport

Soloists have included:
Ruby Hughes
Sophie Bevan
Iestyn Davies
Neal Davies
Christopher Lowrey
Giles Underwood

Reviews
“The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Benedict Hoffnung combined with the Oriel and St Cecilia Singers to make a cathedral of the Town Hall” — The Guardian

“...A gently affectionate musical travelogue through the life of Handel.” —  The Times, Cheltenham Festival, Hilary Finch

For further information please contact:
management@hoffnung.co.uk

Staging Divine Music for Trumpets and Voices

DMTV can be played on either period or modern instruments, though we always prefer to use natural trumpets, as we believe their sound is intrinsic to Handel's music.

The concert works equally well at either baroque or modern pitch (A440 or A415). Please see web clips above from Marlborough (modern) and the Mansion House (baroque).

FORCES
•  Conductor: Ben Hoffnung
•  Solo Trumpet: David Blackadder
•  The London Trumpet Choir
•  1 actor to play Handel
•  3 soloists (SAB)
•  Minimum orchestra of 25 players (dependent on size of venue)
•  Choir of 25 or more (dependent on size of venue)

You may wish to utilize your own orchestra/choir/soloists or actor. Otherwise all forces will be supplied as part of the production.

Whilst preferred venues are medium sized to larger churches and cathedrals, Divine Music for Trumpets and Voices can be adapted to suit a variety of venues. David Blackadder (solo trumpeter) and Benedict Hoffnung (conductor) will oversee all productions. The spoken part can be provided in other languages on request.

Please contact management@hoffnung.co.uk for further detailed information