See 16 performances with Messiah, HWV 56Messiah, Handel's oratorio celebrating the arrival of Jesus Christ the Saviour, is a perennial favourite in England and the United States. At Christmas time, particularly, every year sees a raft of performances, ranging from amateur choirs up to the best choirs in the land. In Australia, the Melbourne Philharmonic has performed the Messiah every year in the 157 years since it was formed.
The work's première was in Dublin on 13th April 1742. Twelve years later, in 1754, a historically important performance was the 1754 benefit concert for the Foundling Hospital, which Handel co-founded. By then, Messiah had been much revised and had reached the form commonly played today.
| Date and venue | Title |
|---|---|
| 22-Dec-2012 Colston Hall | A Christmassy oratorio: Handel's Messiah at Colston Hall, Bristol |
| Many people have triggers to make them feel seasonal, and this evening’s concert was no doubt a source for many audience members. Festive cheer spread around Bristol’s Colston Hall for an evening of joyous music celebrating the Christmas story with Handel’s Messiah. We have to thank librettist Charles Jennens for giving Handel the inspiration to write such powerful and emotive music as this epic piece, written in just 24 days. Christmas in the classical music world would not be complete without the well-known Hallelujah Chorus or “For unto us a child is born”. Read full review... | |
| 1-Dec-2012 Sage: Hall One | Northern Sinfonia: A Messiah with plenty of passion |
-036.jpg) Handel’s Messiah is a challenge to any conductor, particularly in the English-speaking world. It’s probably the best-loved piece in the classical repertoire, guaranteed to bring people out in great crowds. You can’t mess with Messiah, but at the same time, there’s a danger of sinking into tired tradition. The solution Matthew Halls took last night with Northern Sinfonia orchestra and chorus was to focus on details, giving the piece some new sparkle in unexpected places.
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| 21-Apr-2012 Worcester Cathedral | Small forces take on a giant: Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir sing Handel’s Messiah |
 I’ve lost count of the times I’ve sung Handel’s Messiah, always in the context of a large choral society or the massed voices of a ‘come and sing’. So it was a special treat to let someone else do the work, and an interesting contrast to have this familiar oratorio delivered by a smaller ensemble.
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| 20-Dec-2011 Harris Theater, Millennium Park | Hallelujah Heaven at the Harris Theater |
 Two years ago, my voice teacher invited to my very first Messiah performance with the Downers Grove Choral Society, of which he was the director. During the three-hour performance, I vividly recall feeling incredibly uplifted in indescribable spiritual bliss for the whole time I spent in the seat, intensely listening to the historically-informed rendition. This year, I was delighted to learn about the International Music Foundation’s annual Do-It-Yourself Messiah, a longtime Chicago tradition in which the entire audience serves as the chorus.Read full review... | |
