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In 2020, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3 is bringing together musical greats, from the past and the present, in one extraordinary Proms season. Radio 3 is broadcasting the best of four decades of unmissable Proms concerts. The sole work in tonight's concert is one of Handel’s most dramatic and poignant biblical oratorios, Saul, performed complete by leading period-informed collective the Gabrieli Consort & Players, under Paul McCreesh. The cast is led by British bass Neal Davies as the mad king of Israel, with star German counter-tenor Andreas Scholl as his psalm-singing successor.

Davies, Scholl and McCreesh had recorded Saul with the Gabrieli Consort & Players in 2002, for a disc described by Â鶹ԼÅÄ Music Magazine as ‘overwhelming’. It was later made First Choice on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3’s Building a Library. Experience the work live in this exhilarating performance from the 2003 Proms season.

Presented by Martin Handley

Handel: Saul

Neal Davies (Saul)
Andreas Scholl (David)
Deborah York (Michal)
Susan Gritton (Merab)
Mark Padmore (Jonathan)
Paul Agnew (High Priest/Witch of Endor)
Jonathan Lemalu (Ghost of Samuel)
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Paul McCreesh (conductor)

(From the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Proms 2003, 24 August)