2025-26 Season > New Year’s Celebration

Join us for Boston Baroque’s celebrated holiday tradition and ring in the New Year with internationally renowned conductor Marc Minkowski leading the orchestra in a festive program featuring Handel’s complete Water Music, with additional repertoire to be announced.

Composed in 1717 for King George I’s royal barge outing on the River Thames, Handel’s Water Music is one of the most iconic and joyous works of the Baroque era. Brimming with lively dance rhythms, regal fanfares, and infectious energy, the three suites that make up Water Music were designed to be heard outdoors, captivating the royal court and Londoners alike as they floated along the river. Nearly three centuries later, the work remains a timeless symbol of celebration, vitality, and musical brilliance—perfect for welcoming a new year.

Estimated Run Time
2 HRS | One 20-Minute Intermission

Location
Harvard’s Sander’s Theatre | 45 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138


CAST

 
 

Conductor
Marc Minkowski
Learn More >

 


COMPOSER

 

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

One of the towering figures of the Baroque era, George Frideric Handel was born in Germany, trained in Italy, and achieved lasting fame in England, where he spent most of his career. Renowned for his operas, oratorios, and orchestral works, Handel was a master of creating music that blended grandeur, elegance, and expressive charm.

Composed in 1717, Water Music is one of Handel’s most famous and enduring orchestral masterpieces. Commissioned for a royal outing on the River Thames for King George I, the work was performed by musicians on a barge following the royal procession. The king was so delighted with the music that he reportedly requested it be played multiple times throughout the journey.

Water Music is a collection of three lively suites filled with spirited dances, graceful melodies, and regal fanfares that reflect the grandeur of its setting. From the buoyant Hornpipes to the stately Minuets, the music captures both the festive atmosphere of the occasion and the brilliance of Handel’s orchestral writing. More than 300 years later, Water Music remains a joyful celebration of life, ceremony, and the enduring power of music to bring people together.