»La Resurrezione - Die Auferstehung«

Light pierces the darkness, light even illuminates the night of hell, and brings the seeker insight and the believer inspiration. Lucifer laments and resists the intruding brightness on the eve of Christ's resurrection. An argument ensues between the devil and an angel. Christ's death does not mean eternal night but stands at the beginning of a great work of salvation. Mary Magdalen, John the Apostle and Mary the Wife of Cleopas mourn the deceased before the quaking of the earth announces the light of resurrection.

The divine light is the central focus of the oratorio "La Resurrezione" (Italian for "resurrection"), which Georg Friedrich Handel wrote for Easter Sunday in Rome in 1708 at the early age of 23. The lavishly endowed performances of the work took place in a private context since Pope Clement XI did not enjoy such presentations. And despite the exclusive framework, many found fault with the fact that, with Margharita Durastante, a woman enriched the ensemble of singers and that the work in general, musically as well as dramatically, more resembled an opera than an oratorio.

Having dealt with these idle discussions, Marco Comin, with his soloists and orchestra at the State Theatre at Gärtnerplatz, lets the light of this equally philosophical as well as deeply emotional oratorio shine anew.