Georg Friedrich Händel: Messiah (Early Version 1741, First Recording)
12/1/2023, 51 Tracks, 2:20:20
Featuring
Viola Blache
Stefanie Schaefer
Fabian Kelly
Julian Dominique Clement
Felix Koch
Gutenberg-Kammerchor
Neumeyer Consort
George Frideric Handel
Did you know?
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Compositional Technique
The libretto for Messiah, created by Charles Jennens, uses exclusively biblical quotations and divides the narrative into three parts: prophecy, redemption, and the Messiah's role after death.
Critical Reception
The Dublin premiere of Messiah was met with immense enthusiasm, with critics stating that words could not express the audience's delight.
Cultural Impact
Handel's Messiah is now considered a monument to Christian culture and is performed annually worldwide, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Composition History
Handel's Messiah was composed in less than four weeks in London in 1741.
Critical Reception
Despite its Dublin success, the first London performance of Messiah was met with protest from orthodox Christians who considered performing biblical words in a theater with opera singers blasphemous.
Notable Performances
The premiere of Handel's Messiah took place on April 13, 1742, in Dublin as a benefit concert for Mercer's Hospital and the hospital for the poor.
Recording & Production
This recording presents the world premiere of the early 1741 version of Handel's Messiah on CD.
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