I performed Handel’s Fernando on Wednesday 6th April 2022 at Handel’s local church in London—St. George’s, Hanover Square. The performance was a modern premiere of Fernando, Re di Castiglia, which Handel abandoned, or rather, completed under a different title, Sosarme, due to political reasons. This performance, given by Opera Settecento (directed by Leo Duarte) was part of the London Handel Festival 2022: it was the premiere of Fernando—using the new edition by Bärenreiter. This performance had originally been scheduled for April 2020, but was rescheduled to April 2022, due to Covid-19.

Artistic director, Leo Duarte, opened the second half of the programme by playing Handel’s Oboe Concerto in G minor—himself on the oboe: he also rendered the third movement on the traverse flute. Congratulations must go to Leo Duarte not only for his fantastic playing, but also for his incredible efforts directing, and his drive to ensure the reorganisation of this project after the pandemic-induced postponement.