Total Eclipse

Mark Padmore and Carolyn Sampson lead us on a searing journey through Handel.

Arias and duets from his operas and oratorios trace a path from despair to redemption, revealing the great master of the human soul in music.

Tonight’s performance draws on Handel’s lifetime of producing hit shows for London’s theatres. Including around 40 operas and over 20 oratorios, his music itself becomes the stage: witness family quarrels, the twists and turns of love, the political schemes of tyrants undone, and the vulnerable and victorious all brought vividly to life.

From spiritual darkness to transcendence, longtime collaborators with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mark Padmore and Carolyn Sampson bring us a mix of Handel “standards” and hidden gems. From the intensity of Tamerlano and Rodelinda to one of his most enduring ‘airs’, ‘Where’er You Walk’ from Semele.

Part of Music Speaks: Southbank Centre Season 2026/27

*Our ticket price includes a £2 restoration levy from the Southbank Centre. This goes towards maintenance and improvements works on the Southbank Centre’s historic buildings, in particular Royal Festival Hall, and is not subject to any discounts.

The OAE’s 40^th anniversary seasons in 2025/26 and 2026/27 are made possible with the support of The Forty Circle.

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London, Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall

Sunday 16 May 2027, 19:00

Event detail

Mark Padmore and Carolyn Sampson lead us on a searing journey through Handel.

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