Judas Maccabaeus
Oratorio in three Acts, HWV 63
Libretto by Thomas Morell
First performance - 1 April 1747, Covent Garden Theatre, London
Revised version 1747

Judas Maccabäus is one of Handel’s most impressive and successful works. More than 50 performances took place in Handel’s lifetime. The integration of the libretto with the conflict between the Scottish Jacobites under the leadership of the catholic Stuart pretender, Charles Edward, and the royalist government troops played a crucial role in this. The original libretto tells the story of the struggle of the Jews against the rule of the Seleucids. Handel portrays the plot with colourful arias, touching laments, and exaltant triumph choruses.

The present live recording is a production of the 2018 International Handel Festival in Göttingen, highly praised by the critics and the audience. With Laurence Cummings, the Festival's Artistic Director, a renowned Handel specialist stands at the helm of the Göttingen Festival Orchestra, assisted by an excellent vocal cast and the NDR Choir.

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Live recording: 10 May 2018, Stadthalle Göttingen (Germany).