Travel tips for opera lovers – Lübeck and Handel

Handel in Lübeck

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Handel in Lübeck

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Handel in Lübeck

When Handel took the post of musician in the opera house in Hamburg at the age of 17, he was dissatisfied with the pay. When he heard that the position of organist was vacant in Lübeck, he went with the Kapellmeister Mattheson to Lübeck, where the famous Buxtehude held the sought-after position. They visited St. Mary’s Church and heard Buxtehude’s magnificent playing and the fantastic acoustics of the organ and church; moreover, the position paid well. Like everything that is too beautiful, there was a catch, as Mattheson later wrote in his report: “However, because a marriage condition was proposed in the matter, which neither of us showed the slightest desire to do, we departed again after many honors received and pleasures enjoyed.” Buxtehude’s then 28-year-old daughter was to marry the organist, as was the tradition. Two years later, Johann Sebastian Bach was also to reject politefully the offered bride.

Destination St. Mary’s church (Marienkirche)

The Marienkirche in Lübeck is a splendid example of a Gothic church and became the model for 70 churches in the Baltic region. In 1942, a catastrophe occurred during an air raid, the interior of the church was completely burned out, and the famous Totentanz organ, on which probably Bach and Handel had also played, was destroyed. The interior of the church was rebuilt according to the originals, a memorial plaque commemorates Buxtehude, who died in 1707 and was buried in the church.

Marienkirche Lübeck:

https://st-marien-luebeck.de/