Purcell Choir & Orfeo Orchestra concert season ticket 2020/2021- HANDEL: Messiás
Messiah remains the most popular work of George Frideric Handel and one of the world's most frequently played oratorios. It first premièred on 13 April 1742 in Dublin, and continued its triumphal run with concerts in London the following year. Tonight's performance brings the full-length version from the Dublin and early London performances (from around 1742/43) of this masterpiece to the stage. Conducting György Vashegyi's ensembles this time will be recognised conductor from the early music scene Marcus Creed.
Handel might be the only composer in the history of music to exclusively use quotes taken verbatim from the Bible; it appears that he thought it essential to have all the text performed when he was conducting (the libretto was compiled by his friend and colleague Charles Jennens).
'Our objective is also to emphasise the fact that - no matter how accustomed we all are to monumental performances of Messiah - the work was originally written for a modest-sized contingent of musicians: in Dublin, Handel simply did not have any woodwinds available to him,' says Vashegyi. 'In determining the number and mix of performers we would be employing at our concert, we attempted to reconstruct, as far as possible, the circumstances of the 1742 Dublin première. We trust that our audience will thus find new colours and beauties in this deservedly often admired work of music.'
Show: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
Conductor: Marcus Creed
Featuring:
soprano: Katalin Szutrély
alto: Eszter Balogh
tenor: Zoltán Megyesi
bass: Lóránt Najbauer
Purcell Choir
Orfeo Orchestra (on period instruments)
Presented by: Sysart Kft. Orfeo Music Foundation
