Arguably the most famous oratorio ever written and certainly Handel’s best known work, Messiah needs little introduction.
Written at remarkable speed, Handel’s Messiah enjoyed immediate success when it debuted in Dublin in 1742. Its reception in London proved much less favourable, and the work struggled to win over audiences at first. Over time, however, performances in support of the Foundling Hospital transformed public attitudes, and Messiah gradually became one of the most celebrated and enduring works in the choral repertoire.
Image: Edward Webb
