Handel's Messiah

Handel needed a change of fortune in 1740 when his recent opera had flopped, and he turned back to the world of oratorio. Messiah was his sixth of the genre, and caused great controversy by bringing a cathedral choir to join his “club of fiddlers” for the premiere; but with this work he hit gold.

Handel’s epic oratorio depicting the birth, life and death of Christ and the eventual triumph of good over evil has held a special place in the Western choral concert calendar since its first performance in Dublin in 1742, and with good reason. Some of the greatest dramatic scenes ever depicted in music are related by soloists, orchestra and choir, through profoundly beautiful arias and thrilling choruses, none more famous than the Hallelujah!.

Join us to hear this iconic work performed on the instruments Handel intended, by turn touchingly lyrical and dramatically energetic, speaking with the raw emotion of the story.

Richard Egarr

Hana Blažíková

Alex Potter

Samuel Boden