Passing Halles alleys at night - starting at Händel Monument

On the way to the south, we were meeting with our Co-author Detlef in Halle, who surprised again with an interesting city hike in the sense of our common activities regarding tourist destinations which can be interesting for our readers.

Right after a meal at his ancestral Greeks restaurant in the evening a subsequent city tour in the city of Halle with corresponding explanations should happen. We were looking forward to the destinations of the evening tonight.

Once again, our path first led to the marketplace with its imposing Red Tower, whose 76 bells represent the second largest carillon in the world. The famous four-towered Marktkirche "Unser Lieben Frauen" is located here also. Directly opposite you will meet with the only monument in Germany in honor of the British-German Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Händel, which was built up here in Halle. It was planned, built and celebrated here in 1859 on the occasion of a memorial service commemorating of the 100th anniversary of the death of the artist with a grand community action between Germans and Britons.

Already during his lifetime Händel enjoyed the rank of a classic composer in England. In 1738, a life-size monument created by Roubiliac had been erected to his honor in Vauxhall Gardens. On July 15, 1762, the designed grave monument of Händel by Roubliac was revealed in the Westminster Abbey. Mainwaring's 1760 "Memoirs of the Life of the Late George Frederic Händel" are regarded as the first ever published music biography. In contrast to many composers of his time, such as in Germany Johann Sebastian Bach or Georg Philipp Telemann, Händel did not fall into oblivion after his death in England. However, his lasting presence in English musical life was mainly due to his oratorios, especially the Messiah.

The German Händel Monument is located in front of the baptistery of Händel on the Halle market square, from where he looks to London, his main activity and adopted home. On top of three granite steps of 19 ton marble a raised 1500 kg and 3.2 m high bronze statue rises, which shows a mature, obedient Händel in the costume of his time (skirt, breeches, shoes and stockings, the show weapon on the side and huge curly wig on the head).

Impressively, he leans against the rococo music stand to the right of him, on which the score of the Messiah lies. Of the three sides of the desk foot one bears the year 1741, which commemorates the year in which Handel composed his greatest work, the Messiah. On the reverse is a depiction of the organ-playing Cäcilia of Rome. On the right and left as representatives of sacred and secular music, the great singer David or the representative of the vocal art and the string playing of the Greek gods Orpheus are incorporated. The front of the monument bears the simple inscription: HAENDEL on the reverse the dedication: Built by his admirers in Germany and England.

At night, this memorial also serves as another entertaining event as a meeting point and starting point: city tour with the night watchman of Halle. The traditionally dressed night watchman provides a fun time travel through Halle as it once was in his explanations. When the Halle residents rest, the night watchman starts for his evening round. Anyone who comes to Halle should accompany the night watchman armed with halberd, lantern, horn and lots of humor through dark alleys and corners of the city center, which often hide secrets on his tour. He is well acquainted with stories, pussies and legends, the uncanny and the improbable.

Since we had our own city guide, namely Detlef, it was enough for us today taking a photo of the local night watchman. Halle describes itself as the "cultural capital" of Saxony-Anhalt and is known as this nationwide. No wonder, then, that the path taken by Detlef made us familiar with these very culture temples. Among the city's stages are, above all, the Halle Opera House and the Kulturinsel Halle / new theater (Sprechtheater) with several stages, located on the cultural island developed by former director Peter Sodann. On the cultural island there is the puppet theater of the city hall for adults and children. Since 2008, the opera, the cultural island and the Thalia Theater have been merged into one administrative unit.
An impressive tour that exalts the senses through the many illuminations of the buildings and water surfaces. We really enjoyed it.

Please read as well:

Life in Germany - great diversity of cultural influences
Bicycle tour lower Remstal - Waiblingen as a destination

• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
• City Hike at night- Discovering Halle City Hike at night- Discovering Halle
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