G. F. Händel: Messiah

Händel composed his most famous work in just 24 days, between 22 August – 14 September 1741. English poet Charles Jennens (1700–1773) compiled the libretto to Messiah. In November 1741, Händel travelled to Dublin at the invitation of the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Messiah debuted in a recently opened concert venue (Neal's Music Hall) on 13 April 1742. Ticket sales were donated to charities. Burney said of it: “This holy oratorio, as it was called at the beginning, since the entire libretto is taken from the Holy Scripture, was warmly received by the audience, and thus Händel, for the purest charitable motives, came to that most commendable determination that he would perform Messiah every year to the benefit of orphans. And so it was until the end of his life…” According to research published recently, Messiah is far and away the most frequently performed work of music, whether on period instruments, modern instruments, large choirs or in Mozart’s arrangement. Whatever the form, it is always a joy for audiences to hear this holy oratorio both in historical and musical terms.