Handel's "Acis and Galatea" achieved longevity due to its brevity and simplicity, and was later re-orchestrated by composers like Mozart and Mendelssohn.
Performer Biography
Harry Christophers, the founder and conductor of The Sixteen, was appointed a CBE in the Queen's 2012 Birthday Honours for his services to music.
Compositional Technique
Handel's "Acis and Galatea" is notably pastoral, using instruments like oboes and recorders throughout, and unusually, over half the numbers are in triple time.
Performer Biography
The Sixteen, founded by Harry Christophers, has been performing for almost 40 years and has made over 150 recordings.
Composition History
Handel's "Acis and Galatea" was first performed at Cannons, the estate of James Brydges, Duke of Chandos, with only five singers and about seven instrumentalists.
Interpretation
The Sixteen's sound is characterized by tonal warmth, rhythmic precision, immaculate intonation, and a vibrant choral instrument created from the blend of adult professional singers.
