Maurice Greene: Jephtha
Early Opera Company
Maurice Greene was Master of the King’s Musick from 1735 until his death in 1755. Jephtha was written at the height of Greene's powers in 1737, and first performed a hair's breadth from the Temple – in the Apollo Room at the Devil’s Tavern on Fleet Street! Almost 300 years on, a superb cast conducted by Christian Curnyn give a concert performance of this great oratorio in the splendid surroundings of Middle Temple Hall:
Jephtha: Andrew Staples
Jephtha’s Daughter: Mary Bevan
1st Elder: Michael Mofidian
2nd Elder: Jeremy Budd
Jephtha is a rich and varied score. Unlike Handel’s work of the same name, it preserves the tragic end of the original story. The war-like quality of Act One is followed by jubilation and subsequent mourning in Act Two. A rare performance of a magnificent work not to be missed.
Duration: 2 hours (including a 20-minute interval).
This concert is generously sponsored by the Morris-Venables Charitable Foundation.
