Professor of Music Ellen Harris has been much in demand in connection with the recent publication of her book, "Handel As Orpheus: Voice and Desire in the Chamber Cantatas" (Harvard University Press). On Tuesday, Jan. 29, she'll give a talk at the Handel House Museum in London, in the house Handel lived in for 36 years. (Dr. Harris was actively involved in the planning and funding of the museum which opened in November.) Closer to home, she will be featured in the next issue of Soundings, published by the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and will give a talk at the Humanities Library on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
"This book deserves triple applause," said conductor Christopher Hogwood. "First for revealing a shockingly neglected portion of Handel repertoire--nearly a hundred cantatas, almost all overlooked--secondly for opening the door to the social and sexual context of this writing, and revealing, if not Handel's private life, at least the surrounding atmosphere and mores of his aristocratic patrons; and thirdly for enlivening it with the true enthusiasm of a musician as well as a musicologist."
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on January 16, 2002.
