Handel's Messiah was composed in 1741 when the composer, George Frideric Handel, was 56 years old, following a period where he shifted his focus to English oratorios due to the decline of his opera ventures.
Notable Performances
The premiere of Handel's Messiah took place in Dublin on April 13, 1742, at a benefit concert, achieving great success.
Critical Reception
The first London performance of Messiah in 1743 sparked controversy over the appropriateness of performing a work with Christ as the main character in a theatre.
Performer Biography
Masaaki Suzuki, the conductor, founded the Bach Collegium Japan in 1990 to introduce Japanese audiences to baroque works on period instruments, focusing on J.S. Bach and his influences.
Interpretation
Handel himself frequently changed the instrumentation and vocal parts of Messiah for each performance, meaning no two performances by him were exactly alike.
Instruments
The Shoin Women's University Chapel, where this CD was recorded, was designed with an exceptional acoustic, featuring an average resonance of 3.8 seconds and an organ built in the French baroque style by Marc Garnier.
Recording & Production
This recording is based on Handel's 1753 Covent Garden version of Messiah, referencing a new edition by Donald Burrows.
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