Newton Baroque will present London Rivals: Cantatas and Sonatas by Nicola Porpora and George Frederick Handel on Saturday, November 16, 7:30PM at the Nathaniel Allen House (35 Webster Street, West Newton), featuring: Teresa Wakim – Soprano, Jesse Irons – Violin, Sarah Freiberg Ellison – Cello, and Andrus Madsen – Harpsichord.
Tickets: General admission: $35, Senior: $30, Student/Low Income – $10.00, Under 18 – $0.00.
In 1733 Frederick, Prince of Wales brought in the composer Nicola Porpora and founded the Opera of the Nobility to rival his father George II’s opera company, which was directed by George Frederick Handel. The two opera companies competed for singers, and for an audience, and by 1737 both opera companies were bankrupt.
This concert features cantatas, violin sonatas, and keyboard fugues by the rival music directors Nicola Porpora and George Frederick Handel. While Handel is certainly the best known of the two composers today, Porpora may be seen as a more capable rival to Handel than expected. This event will offer comparisons: Jesse Irons will play violin sonatas by both composers, Teresa Wakim will sing cantatas by each of them, and Andrus Madsen will play keyboard fugues by the rivals—all joined by continuo cellist Sarah Freiberg Ellison.
