In the organizer's words:

Handel's Messiah - a work of superlatives: The NDR Vokalensemble will perform it together with the FestspielOrchester Göttingen under the direction of George Petrou on May 22, 2026 in Lübeck.

George Petrou Conductor
Ana Maria Labin Soprano
Sara Mingardo alto
Ru Charlesworth Tenor
Drew Santini Baritone
NDR Vocal Ensemble
Göttingen Festival Orchestra

GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL
Messiah HWV 56

Standing up for the Hallelujah

"Sublimity, grandeur and tenderness" - the press once showered George Frideric Handel's great work with these buzzwords and numerous superlatives. His English oratorio "Messiah" is still probably the composer's most popular work - not least thanks to the magnificent choral interludes. After all, even the British King George II is said to have jumped to his feet during the "Hallelujah". Since then, "Standing up for the Hallelujah" has been a tradition among the British. Handel, the master of stylistic diversity, skillfully blended many different influences into an atmospheric whole in his "Messiah": Protestant choral fugues, popular pastoral tunes and magnificent arias that Handel recycled from his Italian operas.

Leading baroque specialists

The NDR Vokalensemble has been a guest at the Göttingen International Handel Festival for many years. And so the current production is also a collaboration. George Petrou conducts Handel's Christmas and salvation story. The Greek conductor is one of the world's leading baroque specialists and has been Artistic Director of the Handel Festival since 2021. Musicians from renowned original sound ensembles from all over the world come together for the festival to form the Göttingen Festival Orchestra. The British online magazine Bachtrack called it "one of, if not the most outstanding baroque orchestras of our time, perhaps of all time".

Price information:

Discounts available (e.g. U30)