A Musical Journey: Germany (2012)
0h 57min
- General info
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- Synopsis:
A musical journey to the Benedictine Abbey Church at Ottobeuren, accompanied by the music of George Frideric Handel.
The Places
The monastery at Ottobeuren was founded in 764 and included buildings from the succeeding centuries, subsequently destroyed by fire. The present buildings date from the beginning of the 18th century, with the church rebuilt under the architect Johann Michael Fischer. It remains a remarkable monument to its period, and the ornate Abbey Church, with its frescoes and elaborate rococo decoration is bewildering in its splendour.
The MusicMusic accompanying the visit to Ottobeuren consists of choruses from Handel’s oratorio Messiah, written in 1741. Of all English oratorios Handel’s Messiah has always been the most overwhelmingly popular. It is the least theatrical of all his oratorios and the most purely sacred in its choice of subject, the Messiah, a compendious version of the coming of Christ, His death and resurrection. The text, by Charles Jennens, drew extensively on the Authorized Version of the Bible, and an additional attraction has always been the large number of choruses included, a larger number than in any other of Handel’s oratorios. - Aka:
- A Musical Journey: Germany: A Musical Visit to the Benedictine Abbey Church at Ottobeuren
- Studio:
- Naxos
- Genres:
- Children & Family, Documentary, Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest