John Beard: Handel’s Tenor
John Beard Exhibition
Wednesday 14th September 2016 - Sunday 19th February 2017
This exhibition explores the extraordinary life of the celebrated tenor, John Beard – Handel’s ‘tenor of choice’.
This theatre star and 18th century celebrity premiered several roles for Handel in a variety of opera and oratorio, wowed the public at the pleasure gardens with patriotic ballads and nonsense songs, and expertly managed the Covent Garden Theatre until his retirement.
This exhibition presents the curious circumstances of his first marriage, music scores with Beard’s own performance markings, evidence of his kind philanthropy and many other fascinating items from his life. Alongside this, a painting of John Rich, Theatre Manager and Beard’s father-in-law, attributed to William Hogarth will be displayed in Handel’s Music Room in its first public outing, alongside an iconic painting of John Beard by Thomas Hudson.
Come and delve into the theatrical world of John Beard.
This exhibition has been curated by celebrated tenor of the 20th/21st century, Neil Jenkins. It includes items on loan from The National Archive, Royal College of Music, Gerald Coke Collection, Foundling Museum, Pallant House, Beefsteak Club, Benson Private Collection, Neil Jenkins Private Collection and Handel House Collections Trust. It also includes images supplied by the V&A and the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Tickets: included in General Admission price to Handel & Hendrix in London.
