JUDAS MACCABEUS

The King's Consort

Bridgewater Hall

Manchester

IN 1745 England was in ferment. In November, Bonnie Prince Charlie had taken Carlisle and his army was moving rapidly towards London. Against this background of civil unrest, Handel started working on this oratorio. By April 1746 the battle of Culloden had been won, and a victory oratorio was needed to congratulate the country for its defeat of the Jacobite uprising. By August, "Judas Maccabeus" was complete and the following April it was premiered.

The stirring chorus "See, the conquering hero comes" was added the next year, and the rest is history.

Playing period instruments, the orchestra brought the baroque era to life. The harmonies of the choir were a perfect blend, though the convention of singing from the score made them look like flapping butterflies.

Young soprano Lisa Milne lit up the stage. She and the splendid Choir of the King's Consort carried the performance. Her effortless coloratura passages were remarkable. The other soloists did not get the measure of the hall's big acoustics, and unfortunately failed to get the drama and energy of their roles across.

BRENDA KEAN