Saul

The dramatic oratorio Saul, by George Friedrich Händel, was written within a few weeks, despite his deep psychological and financial crisis at the time. The oratorio is rarely performed with staging in Germany—the same is true of Semele, his other dramatic oratorio—and this large-scale staging will be directed by the Berlin opera and film director Axel Ranisch.

After the shepherd David struck down the leader of the Philistines, Goliath, he entered the Israelite court with a stone, considered a victorious hero. King Saul is enthusiastic at first, as are his people – but soon, the king becomes jealous and melancholic, doing everything in his power to get David out of favor. Only David’s harp playing can soothe him. Saul’s son Jonathan, however, stands by David, as does his daughter Michal. But when Saul’s second daughter, Merab, also declares her support for David, the king decides to kill David. But the prophecy warns: Saul's star will fall, while that of the house of David will rise.

From radiantly triumphant choruses, to the prophetic whispering of the ghostly Witch of Endor, to the dignified funeral march–Handel goes to all lengths to do musical justice to the dramatic story of the torn ruler Saul. Director Axel Ranisch uses material from the Old Testament to tell the tragedy of this family, in which the unexpected appearance of a young outsider shakes everyone’s foundations. The voice of the Lord in this story, however, is both a curse and a blessing. [Bertolt Brecht]

By the way
The funeral march for King Saul is still played today at numerous state funerals, as it is considered both noble and redemptive.