The Handel Week Festival-- Oak Park, Illinois

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Our 2006 Concerts:


Concert I: Dixit Dominus
Sat., Feb 4, 7:30 pm
A stunning concerto for chorus, along with an organ concerto by Handel Week favorite, Thomas Wikman.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of William McMillan and Vincenza Fonti


Concert II: The Intimate Handel
Tue., Feb 7, 7:30 pm
Alluring music for two virtuoso singers & flute. Join Julia Bentley, Andrea Holliday & Kaye Clements for a sublime evening.


Concert III: Ezio Metastasio
Sun., Feb 12, 3:00 pm
A returning hero, his beloved, and a powerful Roman Caesar mixed up in a tangle of love and intrigue
Funded by a Generous Grant in Memory of Curtis G. Pinnell


Our 2005 Concerts:


CONCERT I: Concerted Music for Master Musicians - Handel's Concerti Grossi & a Virtuoso Solo Cantata
Sat., Feb 5th, 7:30 p.m.
  • Concerto Grosso in d minor Opus 6, #10 H.W.V. 328
  • Concerto Grosso in D Major Opus 6, #5 H.W.V. 323
  • Cuopre tal Volta il Cielo H.W.V. 98
  • Concerto Grosso in b minor Opus 6, #12 H.W.V. 330

CONCERT II: The Intimate Handel: Music for Soprano and Violins
Tue., Feb 8th, 7:30 p.m.
  • Clori, mia bella Clori HWV 92
  • Figlio d'alte speranze HWV 113
  • Aure soavi e liete HWV 84
  • Violin Sonata in A Major
  • Dietro l'orme fugaci HWV 105

CONCERT III: Judas Maccabaeus
Sun., Feb 22nd, 3 p.m.
Featuring Thomas Dymit, Philip Kraus. Sarah Gartshore, Ruth Lidecka, Edward Zelnis, Edward Zelnis, Ruth Lidecka, and Members of the Schola Choir of Grace Church and the Madrigal Choir of Grace Church


Our 2004 Concerts:


Concert I: Esther: Haman & Mordecai
Sat., Feb. 7th, 7:30 pm
Featuring Soloists Sarah Gartshore, Philip A. Kraus, Jay Morrisey, Edward Zelnis, Ameilia Fonti, Nicci Krebasch, Rosalind Lee, and Ruth Lidecka


Concert II: The Intimate Handel
Tue., Feb. 10th, 7:30 pm
Featuring Michelle Wright, Mezzo Soprano; Kaye Clements, Flute; Susan Ross, 'Cello; and Dennis Northway, Harpsichord.
  • Fra pensieri quell pensiro - HWV 115
  • Sonata in A Minor (Opus 1 #4)
  • Irene, idolo mio - HWV 120b
  • Figli del mesto cor - HWV 112
  • Sonata Number 3 in G Major (Opus 1 #5)
  • Mi palpita il cor HWV 132c
Concert III: Duelling Orchestras! Concerti à due cori and an Oboe Concerto
Sun., Feb. 15th, 3 pm
Funded by a Generous Grant in Memory of Curtis G. Pinnell
  • HWV 333
  • HWV 334
  • Oboe Concerto
  • HWV 332
Our 2003 Concerts:


CONCERT I: Siroë, King of Persia
Fri., May 2nd
Featuring Amelia Fonti, Julia Bentley, Philip A. Kraus, Tina Beverly, and Lisa Flores


CONCERT II: The Intimate Handel
Tue., May 13th
Featuring Michelle Areyzaga, Soprano; Dennis Northway, Harpsichord; Susan Ross; 'Cello; Deborah Stevenson, Oboe; Thomas Yang, Violin.
  • Trio Sonata # 2 in G Minor Opus 2 #2 H.W.V. 393 for Two instruments and Basso Continuo
  • Cantata “Filli adorata e cara” H.W.V. 114 (1707-1708) for Soprano and Basso Continuo
  • Sonata # 13 in D Major Opus 1 # 13 H.W.V. 371 for Violin and Basso Continuo
  • Two Settings of Alleluia, Amen. H.W.V. 367, 371
    II. Amen in F major
    VI. Alleluia, Amen in a minor
  • Sonata # 9 in C Minor Opus 1 # 8 H.W.V. 366 for Oboe and Basso Continuo
  • Cantata "Languia di bocca lusinghiera" H.W.V. 123 for Soprano, Oboe, Violin and Basso Continuo

CONCERT III: The New Handel
Sun., May 18th
featuring Soprano Sarah Gartshore and Handel Week Chorus Soloists Nikki Krebasch, Rosalind Lee and Ruth Lidecka
  • Chandos Anthem: Let God Arise H.W.V. 256a
  • Gloria In Excelsis Deo HWV deest– Chicago Premiere
  • Chandos Anthem: O Praise the Lord with One Consent H.W.V. 254

Our 2002 Concerts:

Pictures from HandelWeek 2002


CONCERT I: Israel in Egypt
Sunday, April 21st, 3:00 p.m.
Featuring Sarah Gartshore, Nicci Krebasch, sopranos; Amy Pickering, alto; and Jay Morrisey, tenor; and presented in conjunction with Oak Park's Heritage Chorale, Jonathan Miller, artistic director.


CONCERT II: The Intimate Handel
Tuesday, April 23rd, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano; Thomas Yang, violin; Kaye Clements, flute; and Susan Ross, cello.

  • Sonata C Minor H.W. 386a for Recorder, Violin., Basso Continuo
  • Airs Francais (Cantata): Sans y penser H.W. 155 (Rome, Sept 1707)
  • Solo Sonata #11 in A Major H.W. 372 Opus 1 #14 for Violin., Basso Continuo
  • Sonata #5 in F Major H.W. 369 for Recorder, Basso Continuo
  • Cantata: Deh! Lasciate e vita e volo H.W. 103 (ca. 1720, London) for Alto, Basso Continuo
  • Sonata in F Major H.W. 405 for Recorder, Violin, Basso Continuo

CONCERT III "Handel on Handel"
Sunday, April 28th, 3:00 p.m.
Featuring Diane Ragains, soprano; Philip A. Kraus, baritone; Amelia Fonti, mezzo-soprano; David Solem, harpsichordist; and Susan Ross, cello.

  • Nell' africane selve H.W. 136a (Naples, June/July 1708)
  • Handel non puo mia musa H.W. 117 (July/August 1708)
  • Akka Caccua (Diana Cacciatrice) H.W. 79 (May, 1707)
  • Suite in G Minor H.W. 246, 247, 249
  • Tacite, ohime, tacite H. W. 196 (1710-1711)

Our 2001 Concerts:


CONCERT I: The Grand Handel
Sat., April 28th, 8 p.m.
Featuring Philip A. Kraus, baritone with Melody Turner, organist.

  • Grand Concerto Opus 6 # 6 in G Minor from Twelve Grand Concertos in 7 Parts H.W. 324 (London, 1740).
  • Cuopre tai volta, Cantata for solo bass H.W. 98 (1708).
  • Grand Concerto Opus 6 #3 in C Minor from Twelve Grand Concertos in 7 parts H.W. 321 (London, 1740).
  • Organ Concerto in D Minor, H. W. 304 (1746) 3vl, va, bc
  • Grand Concerto Opus 6 #1 in G Major from Twelve Grand Concertos in 7 Parts H.W. 319 (London 1740).

CONCERT II: The Intimate Handel or The Pleasure of Your Company
Tue., May 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Tracy Watson, mezzo soprano, and David Solem and Denise Northway, harsichord.

  • Sonata #6 in G Minor for Recorder and Basso Continuo H.W. 360 (1725/1726).
  • Lungi dal mio bel Nume, Soprano Solo Cantata H.W. 127a (3 March 1708) Harpsichord Work
  • Nel dolce dell' oblio Pensieri Notturni di Filli, Soprano Solo Cantata with Recorder H.W. 134 (1707/1708)
  • Sonata in E Minor for Flute and Basso Continuo H.W. 359 b (1726/1732)

CONCERT III: The Celebratory Handel
Sunday., May 6th, 3:00 p.m.
With full orchestra and chorus, Featuring Diane Ragains and Donald S. Wright, organist.

  • Ode for St. Cecelia's Day on a text by Dryden H.W. 76 (1739) "From harmony, from heavenly harmony"
  • Organ Concerto #13 in F Major (1739)"The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" Org, 2 Ob., str., BC
  • Return to Complete Ode for St. Cecelia's Day.

Our 2000 Concerts:


CONCERT I: The Celebratory Handel
Sat., May 20th, 8 p.m.
Dr. Dennis A. Northway, director; Thomas Yang, concertmaster. Featuring Ruth Lidecka, contralto, and Philip A. Kraus, baritone with a full professional orchestra and chorus.

  • Music for Royal Fireworks;
  • Coronation Anthems: Zadok the Priest and the King Shall Rejoice
  • Te Deum for the Peace of Dettingen.

CONCERT II: The Intimate Handel
Tue., May 23rd, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Tracy Watson, mezzo soprano, and David Solem, virtuoso harpsichordist, and Dennis Northway, basso continuo harpsichordist.

Alto Solo Cantatas & Harpsichord Sonatas :
  • Cantata: Clori, degli occhi miei
  • Harpsichord: Suite in B Flat Major
  • Cantata: Qualor, Crudeli si ma Vaga Cori
  • Harpsichord: Chaconne in G Minor
  • Cantata: Siete Rose Rugiadose
  • Harpsichord: Prelude and Chacoone
  • Cantata: "The Harmonious Blacksmith"
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