We are thrilled to bring Maurice Greene’s rarely-performed masterpiece Jephtha to life in the first ever recording of this magnificent work.
Over five intensive days in March 2024, conductor and Founder of Early Opera Company Christian Curnyn will once again bring together a distinguished ensemble of soloists and instrumentalists with Chandos’ world-class team in the perfect acoustic of St Augustine’s, Kilburn, in a recording of Maurice Greene’s rarely-performed masterpiece Jephtha. This is a magnificent work, almost unknown in modern times.
CAST
Maurice Greene was one of Britain’s leading composers in the first half of the eighteenth century, serving as Master of the King’s Musick from 1735 until 1755. Handel and Greene were great friends who ironically ended up being arch-rivals. Jephtha was written in 1737 and first performed by the Apollo Academy, a group of composers who had come together to establish a concert series to rival Handel’s own. This concert series, including the premiere of Jephtha, was performed at the Apollo room in Fleet Street.
Jephtha is arguably Greene’s greatest masterpiece, with a rich and varied score, majestic choruses combined with heartbreaking arias and rousing instrumental numbers. Unlike Handel’s work of the same name, it is in two acts and preserves the tragic end of the original story.
Using Peter Lynan’s 1996 edition, the recording will be produced by Jonathan Cooper and scheduled for release on the Chandos Chaconne label in early 2025.
We have already raised well over half of the total project budget from several charitable trusts (including Continuo Foundation) and a generous EOC Syndicate. In order to raise the final £10,000, we are running a Crowdfunder Campaign and would love you to help us achieve this target. For more information and to donate, visit our campaign page.
