Samson (HWV 57) premiered on February 18, 1743, at Covent Garden Theatre in London. Handel composed the oratorio in the months following the triumphant debut of Messiah in 1742. The libretto, adapted from John Milton’s Samson Agonistes by Newburgh Hamilton, provided Handel with a rich text full of emotional depth and conflict. The premiere was well received, benefiting from the talents of some of Handel’s finest singers, including John Beard as Samson and Elisabeth Duparc (“La Francesina”) as Dalila. The work quickly became one of Handel’s most popular oratorios, remaining in the repertory throughout his lifetime.

We are performing this oratorio in concert form. 

The Handel Opera Project  programs the operas of George Frideric Handel and his contemporaries, as well as other programs of common practice Western (“classical”) music. The Handel Opera Project is dedicated to performing the operas that are thoughtfully edited for better accessibility to bring these works to a wider audience in the Bay Area, integrating themes of global community across countries and centuries as represented by Handel’s approach to composition and representation. 

Please consider supporting an arts organization that provides Berkeley audiences with high-quality operatic productions while allowing local musicians the opportunities to thrive and grow in live concert settings. Many who have performed with The Handel Opera Project have gone on to perform with highly-regarded professional opera companies, including the San Francisco Opera, West Edge Opera, and Ars Minerva. The Handel Opera Project is the only opera company not affiliated with a scholastic institution that provides integral career-starting opportunities for singers and instrumentalists at all levels of ability and artistic accomplishment.  This company provides up-and-coming performers the critical experience they need to excel in the music profession. 

In addition to supporting local artists, your tax deductible donation would make it possible for the company to bring you more operatic gems in 2026. 

We appreciate your time and hope you will consider supporting our company, and in turn, the greater community of baroque interpreters and audiences in Berkeley.

The Handel Opera Project performs at the historic Maybeck church at 2619 Dwight Way in Berkeley, California.          

The Berkeley Daily Planet praised The Handel Opera Project's performance of Médée by writing that "the fire-breathing title role was splendidly sung by Eliza O’Malley... To her immense credit, Eliza O’Malley gave a very fine performance, both musically and dramatically, of this enormously difficult role. In the Berkeley cast, Ms. O’Malley was joined by a fine tenor, Brian Thorsett, who sang the role of Jason; soprano Sara Hagenbuch, who sang the role of Jason’s new fiancée, Dircé; baritone Martin Bell, who brought a calm strength to Créon, Dircé’s father and king of Corinth; and contralto Kathleen Moss, who was excellent as Néris, the worried confidante of Médée’s schemes for revenge. Stage director Kimberly James made good use of the limited space available to her..." 
 

The generosity of your donations enables us to produce our operas, oratorios, and concerts.