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Although Georg Friedrich Handel never personally visited Karlsruhe, his name has been associated with this city in the state of Baden-Württemberg in south-western Germany for almost half a century: every year, thousands of people from all over the world come to experience his spirit at the Badisches Staatstheater.
As Handel still has much to tell us through his music and philosophy, the 2026 International Handel Festival, which will take place from 20 February to 8 March, will once again focus on opera. This year, Tamerlano, which deals with ways of freeing oneself from dictatorship and despotism: “Firmness and contempt are weapons against tyranny. ” (Bajazet). Tamerlano will be conducted by René Jacobs, with the Freiburger Barockorchester, in a production by Kobie van Rensburg.
This inspiration is also reflected in numerous programmes (28 in total), chamber music concerts and recitals with international soloists such as Mayaan Licht. The programme also includes a concert version of the opera Atalanta, featuring countertenor Dennis Orellana, winner of the 2025 Farinelli competition, and a revival of Rinaldo, the flagship opera of the 2025 edition. There will also be a gala concert by the Deutsche Händel Solisten, conducted by Andrea Marcon.
The artistic direction of the 48th International Handel Festival is once again in the hands of opera director Christoph von Bernuth as artistic director, chief opera and concert dramaturge Stephanie Twiehaus, who is responsible for the concert programme and the supporting programme, and conductor Oliver Kersken.Also noteworthy is the intensification of cooperation with the Handel Society and the International Handel Academy.
For more information: https://www.staatstheater-karlsruhe.de/programm/haendel-festspiele/
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