Anger over 'stupid' Handel opener for Edinburgh Festival

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

A PIECE of music celebrating the defeat of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden should not have been chosen to open the Edinburgh International Festival, a prominent Scottish philanthropist has told The Scotsman.

Sir Tom Farmer said Festival regulars were "quite disturbed" by the choice of Handel's Judas Maccabeus and that the oratorio should not have been included in the programme.

The Catholic founder of Kwik-Fit, who has been a major backer of the SNP as well as Scottish arts organisations, said he had heard concerns about the choice from colleagues at a recent dinner.

"It was obvious that people were quite disturbed. I would say that I agree with them," he said.

"There's wonderful, wonderful music been written over the centuries. We have a big choice. Why pick that one?"

At the Festival's launch this spring, its director, Australian Jonathan Mills, said the piece was written to celebrate the victory of and salute the Duke of Cumberland.

As part of the Year of Homecoming, the Scottish Government is trying to attract ex-pat Scots, some possibly descendants of those driven from their homes in the wake of Culloden..

Pete Wishart, the SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire,

said: "This is not the most sensitive start to the Festival. These pieces of music have their place. But I would question whether it was appropriate."

Independent MSP Margo MacDonald described the move as "stupid". "I think the Duke of Cumberland tops most people's lists of those in history we do not wish to honour," she said.

Graham Bell, of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "In the year of Homecoming, we might want to be a little kinder to ourselves and take this opportunity to promote Scotland's strengths."

But author James Irvine Robertson, whose ancestor David Stewart of Kynachan died with the Jacobite Atholl Brigade at the battle in 1746, said: "I think it's an awfully long time ago and a nice piece of music. There's a certain ironic comedy in it rather than offensiveness."

For people attracted to Scotland, the Jacobite rebellion and Bonnie Prince Charlie had a much greater resonance than Cumberland, who was nick-named "Stinking' Billy" in Scotland, he said.

A spokeswoman for the Edinburgh International Festival said: "It is fascinating to see that a work created over 250 years ago still resonates and that our opening concert is the subject of a lively debate.

"Handel's Judas Maccabaeus is part of the political context out of which emerged the Scottish Enlightenment."

Richard Holloway, chairman of the Scottish Arts Council and former head of the Episcopalian Church in Scotland, said: "

Culloden was a long time ago, it is ancient history. This is a cultural event and people should get themselves informed about this great piece of music."

Handel's battle hymn

GEORGE Frideric Handel's great oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus premiered at Covent Garden in 1747. In Edinburgh, it will be performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with a line-up of top soloists.

Ostensibly the story of the triumphant leader of a Jewish revolt in 170BC, it was written by Handel, with words by Thomas Morrell, to celebrate Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland's victory over the Scottish rebels at Culloden in 1746.

It includes the popular chorus "See, the conqu'ring hero comes", and "Butcher Cumberland" is addressed in the libretto as "Truly Wise, Valiant, and Vertuous Commander".