Concordia Ensemble
  • Home
  • 2023 Season
    • Zanetto/Cavalleria Rusticana (in Concert)
    • Theodora (in Concert)
    • Don Giovanni
  • Past Productions
    • 2022 >
      • Susanna/Scholar Double Bill (in concert)
      • Rebirth: A Concert
      • Semele
      • Ordo Virtutum (In Concert)
      • Cendrillon
      • Dido and Aeneas
    • 2021 >
      • Autumn Gala Concert
      • Athalia (in concert)
      • Bastien und Bastienne (in concert)
      • Zanetto (in concert)
    • 2020 >
      • Fairy Queen
  • Our People
    • Our Team
  • Create With Us
    • Singers
    • Musicians
    • Production Team
  • Contact Us
  • Affordable Ticketing Program
  • Our Blog
Buy Your Ticket

A part of the Sydney Solstice Festival 2021 program, Concordia Ensemble's abridgement of Handel's Athalia will represent their first foray into the wonderful world of oratorio. 

Full of rich, three-dimensional characters, Athalia explores the complexities of human nature and the interrelation of politics and religion. Written and premiered in 1733, Handel navigates Samuel Humphreys' libretto, exposing the thoughts of the characters through intimately sorrowful laments, pensive reflections on faith and thunderously angered ariosos.

​Dramatic, agitated and fearful, the opening of our abridgement sees the title character, Athalia, recount having nightmares about a young boy murdering her. Plagued by this fear, the pagan Queen searches the Jewish temple for the boy. Little does she know that her encounter will lead to her spiralling downfall and death. 

Set in the historic setting of St Stephens Uniting Church, Concordia Ensemble abridges the performance to 1 hour and 30 minutes with a charming organ accompaniment. The performance will also feature insert arias from Handel's other works including Jeptha, Theodora, Israel in Egypt, The Occasional Oratorio and Esther. 

Cast and Musicians

Athalia                                Natasha Gesto
Josabeth                            Claire Burrell-Mcdonald
Joad                                    Michael Burden
Abner                                  Jeremy Boulton
Mathan                               Alexander Caldwell
Joas                                     Ella Orehek-Coddington
Soprano Soloist                 Molly Ryan
Countertenor Soloist       Robert Adam
Tenor Soloist                    Alexander Young
​Bass Soloist                       Aidan O'Donnell
​​Athalia Understudy.       Lana Kains

Organist                             Stacey Yang
Repetiteurs                       Jamie-Lee Xu and Joanna Li

Creative Team

Director: Ella Orehek-Coddington
Music Director: Stacey Yang
​Artistic Advisor: Barry Ryan OAM
Stage Manager: Jacob Lawler
Stage Hands and Page Turning: James Parbery and Julia Nie
Sung in English with an approximate run time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

Program

Accompagnato: “What scenes of horror round me rise!”
Recitative: “O Mathan!”
Accompagnato: “O Athalia, tremble at thy fate!”
“Tune your harps” from Esther
Recitative: “Her form at this began to fade”
"His sceptre is the rod of righteousness" from Occasional Oratorio
Recitative: “Amidst these horrors”
Air: “Gentle airs”
Air: “Softest sounds”
Recitative: “Swift to the temple”
“The enemy said; I will pursue” from Israel in Egypt
Recitative: “My Josabeth”
Air: “Faithful cares in vain extended”
Recitative: “Oh cease”

Air: “Gloomy tyrants”
Recitative: “Ah, were this land from proud oppression freed”
Air: “Ah, canst thou but prove me!”
Recitative: “Thou dost the ardour that I wish display"
Air: “Will God, whose mercies ever flow”
Recitative: “’Tis my intention”
Air: “My vengeance awakes me”
Duet: “My spirits fade”
Recitative: “Dear Josabeth”
Duet: “Cease thy anguish”
Recitative (Joad, Joas, Josabeth): “Eliakim”
“For ever blessed be Thy holy name” from Jeptha
 Recitative: “O Princess”
Air: “Soothing Tyrant”
Recitative: “Apostate Priest!”
“Lord to thee each night and day” from Theodora
Recitative: “Oh, treason”
Air: “Opression, no longer I dread thee”
Recitative: “Where am I?”
Air: “Hark!”
Recitative: “Yes, proud apostate”
Air: “To darkness eternal”
Recitative: “Now, Joasbeth”
Duet: “Joys, in gentle trains appearing”
Picture

Dates and Venue

Date and Time: Friday 11th June at 7pm

Performance Venue: St Stephen's Uniting Church, Macquarie Street

Transport: accessible by train and bus at Martin Place Station, or a short walk from Town Hall, Wynyard and St James stations
Picture
© COPYRIGHT CONCORDIA ENSEMBLE INCORPORATED 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • 2023 Season
    • Zanetto/Cavalleria Rusticana (in Concert)
    • Theodora (in Concert)
    • Don Giovanni
  • Past Productions
    • 2022 >
      • Susanna/Scholar Double Bill (in concert)
      • Rebirth: A Concert
      • Semele
      • Ordo Virtutum (In Concert)
      • Cendrillon
      • Dido and Aeneas
    • 2021 >
      • Autumn Gala Concert
      • Athalia (in concert)
      • Bastien und Bastienne (in concert)
      • Zanetto (in concert)
    • 2020 >
      • Fairy Queen
  • Our People
    • Our Team
  • Create With Us
    • Singers
    • Musicians
    • Production Team
  • Contact Us
  • Affordable Ticketing Program
  • Our Blog