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French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky has dazzled listeners with the purity and virtuosity of his Handel singing, fromLascia ch’io pianga to Ombra mai fu, on disc and on the operatic stage. Now the Handel Festival Halle has awarded the French countertenor its Handel Prize for 2015, inviting him to take part in next year’s concert series, to be held from 30 May to 14 June in the birthplace of the great Baroque composer.

Jaroussky’s Handel discography includes a complete recording of the little-known opera Faramondoas well as showstopping arias originally written for castrati on his bestselling album Carestini.

The Handel Prize will be presented as a highlight of the festival, along with the crowd-pleasing pyrotechnics that traditionally conclude the open-air performance of the Music for the Royal Fireworks.