George Frideric Handel was born in Halle, Germany, on February 23, 1685, and died in London, England, on April 14, 1759. The first performance of Messiah took place at the New Music Hall in Fishamble Street, Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 1742. Approximate performance of the Christmas portion of Messiah is 60 minutes.
The creation of George Frideric Handel’s most beloved work, Messiah, took place during a challenging period in the composer’s life. The steady decline in London of the popularity of Italian opera had caused Handel tremendous financial hardship. In addition, Handel’s rigorous work schedule had taken a profound toll on the composer’s health. By the summer of 1741, a period of lethargy had set in.
It was at this point that Handel received a libretto for a new work, an oratorio based upon the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The author of the libretto was Charles Jennens, who collaborated with Handel on several oratorios.
In July of 1741, Charles Jennens wrote to a friend:
Handel says he will do nothing next Winter, but I hope I shall persuade him to set another Scripture Collection I have made for him, & perform it for his own Benefit in Passion Week. I hope he will lay out his whole Genius & Skill upon it, that the Composition may excel all his former Compositions, as the Subject excels every other subject. The Subject is Messiah.
Handel began composition of Messiah on August 22, 1741. There seems to be no question that the libretto, based upon the Old and New Testaments, proved to be a source of majestic inspiration. Handel, working at a lightning pace, composed Messiah in just 24 days.
Once Handel completed Messiah, he focused his attention upon Samson, another oratorio inspired by the Bible. It was during this period that Handel accepted an invitation to travel to Dublin for a series of concerts in aid of charity. In November, Handel set sail for Dublin, bringing with him several works for performance at the charity concerts. Among those works was Messiah.
The premiere of Messiah took place at Dublin’s New Music Hall in Fishamble Street on April 13, 1742. Three days prior to the performance, the Dublin Journal printed the following admonition:
Many Ladies and Gentlemen who are well-wishers to this Noble and Grand Charity for which this Oratorio was composed, request it as a Favour, that the Ladies who honour this Performance with their Presence would be pleased to come without Hoops, as it will greatly increase the Charity, by making room for more company.
Gentlemen were also requested to refrain from bringing their swords to the performance, again for the purpose of increasing the audience capacity.
The performance was a tremendous success. As the Dublin Journal reported:
(T)he best Judges allowed (Messiah) to be the most finished piece of music. Words are wanting to express the exquisite Delight it afforded to the admiring crowded audience. The Sublime, the Grand, and the Tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestic and moving Words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished Heart and Ear. It is but justice to Mr. Handel, that the World should know, he generously gave the Money arising from this Grand Performance, to be equally shared by the Society for relieving Prisoners, the Charitable Infirmary, the Mercer’s Hospital, for which they will ever gratefully remember his Name…
The London premiere of Messiah, which took place at Covent Garden on March 23, 1743, was more problematic. It appears that the London public accorded Handel’s Messiah a mixed reception. However, at least according to one observer, those in attendance—including one very prominent member of the audience—were particularly moved by a portion of the oratorio. This resulted in the birth of a tradition that continues to this day: “When the chorus struck up ‘for the Lord God Omnipotent’ (in the ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus), they were so transported that they all together, with the King (who happened to be present), started up and remained standing till the chorus ended.”
In May of 1750, Handel agreed to present Messiah as a benefit for London’s Foundling Hospital. The performance venue of the Hospital’s Chapel, coupled with the worthy cause, removed any possible objections. Charity concerts of Messiah became a yearly tradition at the Foundling Hospital.
On April 6, 1759, Handel made his final public appearance, conducting a London performance of Messiah. On April 13, Handel died at the age of 74. The funeral, held in Westminster Abbey, attracted an estimated 3,000 mourners. Three years later, the great church unveiled a monument to Handel, created by the French sculptor, Louis François Roubiliac. The monument depicts Handel, holding the score of Messiah. Overhead, an angel plays a lyre. The score is opened to the soprano solo that serves to begin the oratorio’s Third Part: “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
This concert features Part I, the Christmas Portion, of Messiah, as well as the “Hallelujah!” Chorus from Part II.
program notes by Ken Meltzer