International Handel Festival Göttingen

The World's Oldest Handel Festival

The history of the Göttingen Handel Festival began in 1920 when Oskar Hagen initiated the rediscovery of Handel as an opera composer with a sensational performance of Rodelinda. Thus, Göttingen is considered the birthplace of the Handel Renaissance, which today shapes a flourishing concert and opera repertoire worldwide. Over more than a century, the festival has developed into an institution that draws the international Handel scene to Göttingen every year – singers, conductors, orchestras, musicologists, critics, and an enthusiastic audience.

Motto ENTICEMENT

The motto ENTICEMENT for the 38th edition addresses a central theme in Handel's operatic works: the power of seduction, whether political, erotic, or spiritual. Numerous Handel operas – from Alcina to Agrippina to Rinaldo – revolve around characters who entice others or are themselves enticed. The 2026 program uses this thematic framework for a curated selection of works, concerts, and accompanying events that illuminate the theme in its many facets.

Deidamia – New Festival Production

The opera program focuses on a new festival production of Handel's late opera Deidamia (1741). The opera – Handel's last – tells the story of the young Achilles, who is hidden on the island of Skyros disguised as a girl by his mother Thetis to protect him from the Trojan War. The enticement by the princess Deidamia and the clever ruse of Odysseus, who unmasks Achilles, form the core of the plot. The production will be performed at the Deutsches Theater Göttingen.

Messiah as a Major Event

Another pillar of the program is the performance of Messiah, one of the most famous oratorios in music history. The performance in the University Auditorium or one of Göttingen's churches combines Handel's sacred tradition with the special acoustics of historical spaces and is a must-see for festival audiences.

FestspielOrchester Göttingen – 20th Anniversary

The FestspielOrchester Göttingen, which has accompanied the festival as its resident ensemble since 2006, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026. Under various conductors and with a core group of internationally sought-after specialists in historical performance practice, the orchestra has developed a globally recognized style that shapes the performances in Göttingen.

Offshoot in Hann. Münden

A special feature of the 2026 festival is the expansion of the venue network. A dedicated concert will take place at the Welfenschloss in Hann. Münden – an offshoot that picks up on the historical connection between Göttingen and the history of the Welf dynasty in southern Lower Saxony.