This wonderful Family Concert features beautiful Baroque music by George Frideric Handel and Jean-Féry Rebel. Composed in 1717 for King George I of Great Britain as entertainment for an excursion on the River Thames, Handel’s gorgeous Water Music includes minuets, bourrées and hornpipes. The King was so pleased with the music that he ordered it to be played again and again. Handel’s glorious and triumphal Music for the Royal Fireworks was composed to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748.
The Elements, an extraordinary suite by French Baroque composer, Jean-Féry Rebel (1666 -1747) begins with the chaos that preceded creation of the natural world. Next are movements in which the four elements are portrayed and the order of nature emerges. The bass expresses Earth, while flutes imitate the flow and murmur of Water. Air is illustrated by small flute cadenzas and pauses, while Fire appears with the shooting, flame-like brilliance of the violin. Adding to the excitement of this concert, video artist Grégoire Pont will illustrate the music with live image projections on screen.
