In this special presentation, Christopher Hogwood, one of the most celebrated and authoritative practitioners of baroque and early classical music, will discuss the resurgence of interest in George Frideric Handel’s music. With him will be cast members from Houston Grand Opera, performing excerpts from Handel’s Ariodante, which Hogwood will conduct for HGO in November. Hogwood will explain the roots of the opera’s story and the instruments and performance style that the composer had in mind.

Christopher Hogwood conducts repertoire ranging from the baroque to contemporary, always with the philosophy of revealing the original sound-world of the composer. He is particularly associat-ed with the Academy of Ancient Music, which he founded in 1973. He received the Editor’s Choice Gramophone Award and the Cannes Classical Award for Opera of the 17th/18th century for his recording of Handel’s Rinaldo.