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Image for Handel's Messiah
Handel's Messiah
December 18-20 | Hampton Roads
Program

Eric Jacobsen, conductor

Rachel Blaustein, soprano

Lisa Marie Rogali, mezzo-soprano

David Walton, tenor

Joshua Conyers, baritone 

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Messiah

George Frideric Handel 

   1. Symphony

   2. Accompagnato - Comfort ye, comfort ye my people 

   3. Air - Ev'ry valley shall be exalted

   4. Chorus - And the glory, the glory of the Lord

   5. Accompagnato: Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts

   6. Air - But who may abide the day of His coming

   7. Chorus - And He shall purify

   Recitative - Behold, a virgin shall conceive

   8. Air and Chorus - O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion 

   9. Accompagnato - For behold, darkness shall cover the earth 

   10. Air - The people that walked in darkness

   11. Chorus - For unto us a Child is born

   12. Pifa 

   Recitative - There were shepherds abiding in the field

   13. Accompagnato - And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon  

   Recitative - And the angel said unto them 

   14. Accompagnato - And suddenly there was with the angel

   15. Chorus - Glory to God in the highest 

   16. Air - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion 

   Recitative - Then shall the eyes of the be blind open'd

   17. Duet: He shall feed His Flock like a shepherd 

   18. Chorus - His yoke is easy, His burden is light

-intermission- 

   21. Chorus - Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows 

   22. Chorus - And with His stripes we are healed 

   23. Chorus - All we like sheep have gone astray 

   24. Accompagnato - All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn 

   25. Chorus - He trusted in God 

   36. Air - Why do the nations so furiously rage 

   37. Chorus - Let us break their bonds asunder 

   Recitative - He that dwelleth in heaven

   38. Air - Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron 

   39. Chorus - Hallelujah 

   40. Air - I know that my Redeemer liveth 

   41. Chorus - Since by man came death 

   42. Accompagnato - Behold, I tell you a mystery 

   43. Air - The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be rais'd 

   47. Chorus - Worthy is the Lamb that was slain


Program Notes

—©Jennifer More, 2025

Libretto

Georg Frideric Händel 

MESSIAH HWV 56 (1742)

A Sacred Oratorio

Text: Charles Jennens