A triumphant Esther from Cummings at the London Handel Festival's Spring Awakenings

Esther at London Handel Festival
© Sisi Burn

Laurence Cummings (Director)

Nardus Williams (Esther)

Tim Mead (Ahasuerus)

Jess Dandy (Mordecai)

Florian Störtz (Hanan)

Rachel Redmond (Israelite Woman & Second Israelite)

Laurence Cummings (First Israelite)

John Bowen (Habdonah)

Edmund Hastings (An Officer)

London Handel Singers

London Handel Players

7pm, Thursday 14 March 2024

London Handel Festival

St George's, Hanover Square, London

★★★★

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Esther, HWV50 (1732 version)

The London Handel Festival
© Nick Boston

'Cummings set the tone, launching the overture at a sprightly pace, with a bright, joyful sound from the tight ensemble. As expected, there were some cracking speeds this evening, but there was also tenderness and grace, with deft string work, elegant woodwind and gleaming brass'. 

'Nardus Williams' Esther had powerful presence, delivering her opening virtuosic “Alleluia” from the pulpit with assertive brilliance'.

'Jess Dandy give us deeply fruity tones as Mordecai, as well as opening up expressively in her upper registers in “So much beauty, sweetly blooming”'.

'The London Handel Singers showed their skill throughout, expertly delivering the key dramatic mood shifts'. 

'Tim Mead’s Alleluias in the final chorus ... were breathtaking in their virtuosic display. Combined with glorious brass and triumphant choral singing, joined at the very end by all the soloists, they brought the evening to a stupendous finish'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.