Today’s Video of the Day is a performance of Handel’s Foundling Hospital Anthem by The English Concert. This piece recycled Handel’s earlier works as a way of supporting the Foundling Hospital in London. This performance, recorded on 28 February 2023 at the Barbican, features sopranos Miah Persson and Elena Villalon, mezzo Ann Hallenberg, tenor James Way, the Clarion Choir and Harry Bicket as director.

This performance was presented as The English Concert’s recreation of Handel’s Foundling Hospital Concert and saw the orchestra launch its own initiative inspired by the composer: Handel for All. A legacy project with the desire to film every single piece of Handel’s music to create an online resource that is free and accessible to anyone, anywhere. Since the launch of the project, The English Concert has released a number of works, including Handel’s Samson, Saul, Armida Abbandonata and Music for the Royal Fireworks, featuring TEC musicians alongside soloists such as Stuart Jackson, Iestyn Davies and Mary Bevan.

First performed at a benefit concert of Handel’s works for the charity, The Foundling Hospital Anthem features material from Handel’s Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline, the oratorio Susanna and Messiah. The work also includes anonymous libretto inspired by the Old Testament’s King Solomon, featuring several celebrated numbers from Handel’s Solomon, including the famous ‘sinfonia’ that opens Act 3: ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’.

All of The English Concert’s Handel for All content is available here and is free to watch.