Stegreif: #Explore_Händel

As one of the highlights of our 2027 classical music program, we are once again presenting a performer unlike any the Hungarian audience is likely to have encountered before: an improvising chamber orchestra! The German Stegreif ensemble is known for its fresh and innovative performances of classical repertoire, infused with jazz improvisation. This time, they are coming to us with their production #explore_händel , in which they present works by the Baroque musical giant Georg Friedrich Händel in their own distinctive arrangements. We wholeheartedly recommend it to jazz fans and early music enthusiasts alike—and, of course, to anyone looking for a unique musical experience.

Today, we know improvisation primarily as one of jazz’s defining elements, but there have also been periods in the history of classical music when improvisation played an important role—for example, in 17th- and 18th-century Baroque music—and fortunately, this practice is now making a comeback. Building on this connection between past and present, the Stegreif musicians offer a fresh take on highlights from Händel’s vast body of work, including several movements from the Concerto Grosso in G minor, excerpts from the oratorio Israel in Egypt, and the famous aria beginning “Lascia ch’io pianga” from the opera Rinaldo. Led by trombonist Alistair Duncan, the musicians improvise on themes from the works as they move freely through the space. Each of the seven instrumentalists has a different musical background and a distinct relationship with Baroque music and improvisation, so their collective performance is sure to offer us a truly one-of-a-kind chamber concert.