Opening of the special exhibition

Programme
 
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759)
Overture, Sarabande, Gigue and Passacaille from Suite Nr. 7 G minor HWV 432 
from Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin (1st collection from 1720)

Welcome: Dr Bernd Feuchtner (Director of the Handel House Foundation)

Greeting: Dr Judith Marquardt, Councillor for Culture and Sport of the City of Halle (Saale)

Introduction: Christiane Barth and Karl Altenburg (curators of the special exhibition)

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)
Gavotte avec Doubles
from Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin (1726/27)
Gavotte and Variations 1, 2, 3 and 6

Musical performance: Albrecht Hartmann, associate professor of piano in the music degree programmes at Martin Luther University Halle, harpsichord

Charm • Esprit • Gallantry - Handel and France (24 February 2024 until 7 January 2025)

Curators: Karl Altenburg and Christiane Barth, with the collaboration of Dr Juliane Riepe

Design: Axel Göhre INSIDE Grafik

Around the year 1700, the whole of Europe looked to France with a mixture of fear, admiration and envy. French language, culture and fashion were the measure of all things. The royal court of Versailles was particularly influential: having become the cultural "centre of the world", French dance music spread throughout Europe from here - and Handel's music would be unthinkable without it. George Frideric Handel spoke fluent French, was familiar with French art and literature, was inspired by French music and incorporated French musical elements into many of his own works.

But while France was a cultural anchor point, it was also passionately hated. Louis XIV had embroiled his country, which was on its way to becoming a world power, in numerous conflicts and wars that were to shape not only France itself but also its European neighbours long after the death of the "Sun King". Perhaps Handel's view of the world was also influenced by this, as the travelling composer never set foot on French soil himself. And yet he could not escape the influence of the French, as the annual exhibition "Charm - Esprit - Gallantry - Handel and France" from 24 February 2024 will impressively demonstrate using historical books, valuable prints, busts and sound samples.