University lays on a classical music feast – University of Reading
16 March 2005There will be a rare opportunity to hear Handel's classic work, Alexander's Feast, being performed in Reading on Saturday 2 April at 7.45 pm. Jeremy Boughton conducts the renowned Thames Consort at Christ Church (Christchurch Road, Reading). The concert is part of the annual Classical Association conference, hosted this year by the University of Reading, at which one of the themes is the reception of Alexander the Great. The piece ('Alexander's Feast, or, the power of musick: an ode, in honour of St Cecilia's Day') is for three soloists and harpsichord in addition to the orchestra and chorus. It sets to music John Dryden's 1697 ode, in turn based on an episode in Plutarch's Life of Alexander. The bard Timotheus sings and plays his lyre with such power that he calls up different emotions in Alexander and his court: joy, celebration, sadness, love, awe, fury and revenge. Tickets for the concert cost £10 each and are available from David Carter on (tel) 0118 378 6772, or (e-mail) d.m.carter@reading.ac.uk; please give any your email the subject heading ALEXANDER TICKETS). Those interested in attending the Classical Association conference can obtain further information from Helen King, ca2005@rdg.ac.uk. End For media enquiries only, please contact Craig Hillsley, the University's press officer, on (tel) 0118 378 7388, or (email) c.hillsley@rdg.ac.uk