Handel: Messiah

Handel composed the Messiah at an astounding speed over three or four weeks in August and September 1741. The first performance took place on April 13th 1742 at the Musick Hall in Dublin. Over 700 crammed into the hall, and ladies were requested to wear a dress 'without hoops' in order to make more room. It was an instant success, and became his most famous work, and one of the most loved of all baroque pieces. Handel continued to revise the work, often to suit particular venues and the orchestra and choral forces to hand. These revisions continued right up to the year of his death in 1759 at the age of 74. He had in fact attended a performance of Messiah on April 6th 1759, 8 days later he died. The version recorded here is a new edition by Malcolm Bruno based on the original 1741 score.