The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will present Handel's “Water Music” Suite on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 at St. John's Episcopal Church located at 302 Green St. in Fayetteville 

Twenty musicians from the Fayetteville Symphony will perform a collection of lively dance music by George Frideric Handel in the beautiful chapel of St. John's Episcopal Church. This smaller group, called a chamber orchestra, includes many performers that fans of the symphony will recognize. FSO’s Concertmaster, Fabian Lopez, amazed audiences last year in a sold-out performance of Vivaldi's “Four Seasons” in the same hall, and attendees of our Symphony on Tap series will recognize Principal Bassist, Rebecca Marland and Second Oboe, Ron Ford. We are so fortunate to have multi-faceted performers in the FSO.

“St. John’s Episcopal Church is not only beautiful and historic, it is also quite a lovely space for the FSO to perform in. The orchestra and I especially enjoy bringing programs of Baroque era music to St. John’s,” said Music Director Stefan Sanders in a press release. “This program features the entire “Water Music” by George Frideric Handel - you know, the guy who wrote the “Hallelujah Chorus?" Water Music was composed by special request from King George I to entertain his guests (and all who could see and hear the spectacle) on a royal boat journey along the Thames river from London to Chelsea in 1717. The King loved the music so much that he demanded the musicians keep repeating the music to last the entire journey…there and back, for nearly six hours of playing by the orchestra. That's a lot of notes! "Water Music” is a collection of baroque dance movements: minuets, bourrées, hornpipes, gigues, rigadouns and the like. This early 18th Century “yacht rock” is such a joy to play and listen to, and you will surely recognize many of these melodies. Handel could write a tune!”

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online here, by contacting the FSO office at (910) 433-4690, or by purchasing tickets at the door the night of the concert. Senior, military, college student, child, and Cumberland County Schools employee discounts are available on all ticket purchases.