Lauren Lodge-Campbell and Gwendoline Blondeel perform at the Internationale Händel-Festspiele in Karlsruche

Lauren Lodge-Campbell reprises the role of Iole in HANDEL HERCULES and Gwendoline Blondeel makes her debut at the festival as a soloist with les abbagliati

**HANDEL HERCULES:**

iNTERNATIONALE Händel-Festspiele, KARLSRUHE

Lauren Lodge-Campbell is now rehearsing for her next run of performances at the Staatstheater in Karlsruhe where she will be singing the role of ‘Iole’ in Handel Hercules. Part of the Internationale Händel-Festspiele (17th February to 3rd March), this is a repeat production of last year’s sold-out series of performances. Directed by Floris Visser, and musical directed by Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Lauren Lodge-Campbell will sing in four performances over the course of the festival.

Lauren received great critical acclaim when she debuted the same role in last year’s festival. Hailed as the “stand out singer” of the evening, with her “beautifully rendered coloratura”, “wonderful timbre and sophisticated phrasing”, “Lodge-Campbell masters her six arias and two duets in an exemplary manner”. Her dramatic prowess and “sensitive role portrayal” were also admired. “She creates her part in the finest nuances and embodies the daughter filled with sadness and melancholy with vocally feverish brilliance.”

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Reviews 2022

"Die stärksten Eindrücke bei den Sängern gehen aber von Lauren Lodge-Campbell als Iole aus. Die junge Sopranistin singt glasklar, wunderbar ebenmäßig und stellt ihr herrliches Timbre und ihre ausgefeilte Phrasierung in den Dienst eines empfindsamen Rollenporträts."

Karl George Berg, Die Rheinpfalz, February 2022

"Lauren Lodge-Campbell ist die Überraschung des Abends. Sie gestaltet ihre Partie in feinsten Nuancen und verkörpert mit stimmlich fiebrigem Glanz die von Trauer und Melancholie erfüllte Tochter. Unerhört traurig wie schön gelingt ihr Klagegesang „My father! Ah! methinks I see!“. Szenisch wie musikalisch ist dies der intensivste wie berührendste Moment am Premierenabend."

Christiane Frank, Klassik.com, February 2022

“Eine stimme aber ragt heraus: Lauren Lodge-Campbell als Iole mit wunderschon zum gebrachten Koloraturen”

Bernd Künzig, SWR2, February 2022

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watch the trailer below

ALIENS IN LONDON:

iNTERNATIONALE Händel-Festspiele, KARLSRUHE

Toward the end of the 17th century, London became a major musical centre in Europe and composers and singers regularly travelled to the city to perform. Gwendoline Blondeel, alongside Les Abbagliati, reflect on this period (around 1700), performing works by Handel, as well as Bonocini, d’Astorga and Lecclair.

Programme

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 –1759)
Triosonate op. 2 Nr. 1 h-Moll HWV 386b

Giovanni Bononcini (1670 –1747)
Kammerkantate Sento dentro del petto un lusinghiero ardor aus 12 Cantatas A-Wn Mus. Hs. 17567

Georg Friedrich Händel
Pensieri notturni di Filli Kantate für Sopran, Flöte und Basso continuo HWV 134

John Playford (1623 –1687)
The Division Violin

Emanuele Rincon d’Astorga (1680 –1757)
Kantate Che ti giova, amor crudele aus 12 Cantatas A-Wn Mus. Hs. 17567

Jean-Marie Leclair (1697–1764)
Chaconne aus Deuxième recréation de musique für Flöte, Violine und Basso Continuo op. 8

CLICK HERE FOR THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

NEWSIntern CLB10 February 2023Lauren Lodge-Campbell, Gwendoline Blondeel