On George Frideric Handel’s birthday, check out these H. Paul Moon films documenting four of the composer’s operas tailored for outdoor performance in New York community gardens by Opera Essentia. The company’s artistic director, countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum, manages to get each of them down to about an hour. The operas are rarely-heard. The abridgments are tasteful. The productions are no-budget, bare-bones, and beautiful. I posted about “The Queen’s Heart,” the distillation of “Radamisto,” early in January. Hear all four here:
https://zenviolence.com/handel
Happy birthday, Handel!
Tag: Jeffrey Mandelbaum
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Handel in the Garden with Opera Essentia
H. Paul Moon wrapped up 2025 by quietly slipping a gift under the tree in the form of a posted film of an Opera Essentia performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Radamisto.” Countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum’s distillation of the composer’s 1720 opera seria in three acts manages to get it down to one hour as “The Queen’s Heart.”
I love this sort of quixotic endeavor, presenting tasteful abridgements of rare Handel operas in New York City neighborhoods for free. The productions are no-budget, bare-bones, and beautiful. Watching the wind rustle the leaves during this performance is magical.
Mandelbaum has appeared widely, in both concert hall and opera house, including at the Metropolitan Opera, alongside such singers as Joyce DiDonato and Placido Domingo.
H. Paul Moon’s feature-length documentary “Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty” aired nationwide on PBS in 2017.
Opera Essentia performs in New York’s gardens, parks, and other neighborhood gathering spaces. “The Queen’s Heart” was filmed at Green Oasis Community Garden on May 24, 2025.
Enjoy it here:
To view other operas in the series, visit:
For more information about Opera Essentia, visit:
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Weekend Music Bruckner Handel Diversions
With the weekend nearly upon us, here are two musical diversions for your consideration.
The first is an absorbing conversation about Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4. Dr. Benjamin Korsvedt chats with MusicaNova Orchestra music director Warren Cohen. Cohen and the orchestra would go on to present the world premiere of the rediscovered 1878 version of Bruckner’s most popular symphony – 144 years after it was composed! To experience the performance, you have to order the CD or BluRay, but the tantalizing conversation is free. You’ll find all the information here:
MusicaNova Orchestra has a reputation for its truly remarkable programming. You will find music performed there that you won’t encounter anywhere else. Bookmark their homepage, and if you happen to find yourself in Arizona, definitely check them out.
Then head back to the East Village to enjoy a hit of Handel in Campos Community Garden. Here’s H. Paul Moon’s concert film of Handel’s “Orlando.” The distillation is by Metropolitan Opera countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum, who also assumes the title role. Plenty of greenery and bird song with lovely music, and without the sun and bugs.
https://zenviolence.com/orlando
Zen Violence Films
Here’s to a beautiful, musical weekend!
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