In 1815, a group of Bostonians came together to form an ambitious music ensemble. They wanted to bring the best of the old world's classical music to the young democracy alongside new music from Europe and the Americas.
The Handel and Haydn Society, as they called themselves, expressed its mission through branding: 'Handel' represented past composers like George Frederic Handel, while 'Haydn' stood for contemporary composers such as Joseph Haydn (although he was deceased, his music was still considered cutting edge).
Two hundred years later, the Handel and Haydn Society (H+H) is the oldest continuously performing music ensemble in the United States. And throughout the next two seasons, H+H will celebrate their bicentennial.
On June 18, the H+H orchestra and chorus will perform music that the society played on some of their very first programs 200 years ago, plus a new work by Gabriela Lena Frank specially commissioned for the anniversary.
PT host Fred Child spoke with H+H's Artistic Director, Harry Christophers.
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