the 200th anniversary of the death of Georg Friedrich Handel will be commemorated in Germany by a large number of concerts during 1959. Handel was born in Halle in 1685, gained his first ' laurels as a composer in Hamburg, Hanover and in Italy. He then settled in England and died in London on April 14th, 1759.
The climax of the various performances will be a special ceremony in Berlin, at which the President of the German Federal Republic, Prof. Dr. Heuss will give an address. Oratorios, orchestral, piano and organ works will he given in many German towns. On April 14th, Handers oratorio "The Messiah** will he performed in Frankfurt and Cologne. Operas and other works will be given in Berlin, Munich. Hamburg, Mannheim and Stuttgart. The operas will include " Julius Caesar", " Xerxes". " Agrippina " etc.
The Bayreuth Wagner Festival Plays of 1959 will open with "The ing Dutchman " on July 23rd in a new staging by Wieland Wagner, and will last until August 25th. The operas wil: include " Lohengrin ". " The Master Singers of Nuremberg ". and " Parsifal ". staged by Wieland. and " Tristan
and staged by Wolfgang Wagner. The " king Cycle" will not be included until 1960.
Enquiries regarding travel should be sent to: Going Away. "Catholic Herald." 61 Fleet Street. London. F..C.4