Il Parnasso in Festa

A rare masterpiece by George Frideric Handel in Leeuwarden

Stichting Nassau en Friesland presents:

“Il Parnasso in Festa” – Apollo Ensemble and 12 soloists

A remarkable musical event: a performance of the oratorio Il Parnasso in Festa by George Frideric Handel.

This festive oratorio was composed in 1734 for the wedding of the Frisian stadtholder Willem Carel Hendrik Friso and Anne Princess Royal. Handel wrote music full of energy, elegance, and emotion—a true musical tribute to love and connection. Despite its exceptional quality, this work is rarely performed, largely due to its large and richly varied scoring.

The internationally acclaimed Apollo Ensemble, specialists in Baroque music on historical instruments, brings this masterpiece to life under the direction of David Rabinovich, together with an outstanding cast of vocal soloists. The sound sparkles, the atmosphere is festive, and the expressive power is immediate.

The cast consists of nationally and internationally renowned soloists:

Renate Arends – soprano – Clio

Janneke Stoute – soprano – Orfeo

Iris Bouman – alto – Cloride

Franske van der Wiel – soprano – Apollo

Rosina Fabius – alto – Calliope

Eske Tibben – alto – Euterpe

Dierick Aartsen – tenor

Francis Ng – tenor

Pablo Gregorian – tenor

Robert Muuse – bass – Mars

Bram Trouwborst – bass

Jasper Schweppe – bass

Il Parnasso in Festa is a unique opportunity to experience a rare gem by Handel live—an evening filled with Baroque splendour, historical significance, and pure musical joy.

* Prior to the oratorio, Mr. Bearn Bilker—chairman of Stichting Nassau en Friesland—will give an introduction on the Frisian connection to the oratorio.

At the heart of this lies the idea that the Apollo Ensemble continually reinvents itself in the performance of music. We approach each performance as if the music were being heard for the very first time. In doing so, surprising locations throughout the province are just as dear to us as the more established stages. Ultimately, what matters is the genuine interaction we experience with our audience, made possible by the audible and visible intensity of our music-making.

The place and time of a performance, and the presence of an audience, have a profound effect on the musicians. In that very moment, we create a new re-creation. We apply this remarkable awareness to over five centuries of music history, from Claudio Monteverdi to Igor Stravinsky. Using instruments appropriate to each period, we delve deeper into the world of the composer and the piece. In doing so, we expand our understanding and, with it, the rich variety the ensemble has to offer.