George Frideric Handel composed his oratorio Messiah in 1741, using a compilation of texts from the Bible and the Prayer Book Psalter by Charles Jennens.
Interpretation
Sir Andrew Davis's new edition of Messiah includes a substantial brass and woodwind section, and a large number of percussion instruments, including a marimba, used sparingly.
Composer Biography
Sir Andrew Davis, the conductor, was born in 1944 in Hertfordshire, England, and studied at King's College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar before becoming a conductor.
Interpretation
Sir Andrew Davis, the conductor, created a new concert edition of Handel's Messiah, aiming to keep Handel's original notes and style while using a modern symphony orchestra's full range of colors.
Performer Biography
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1922, is one of Canada's major cultural institutions and has a rich partnership with Sir Andrew Davis, who was its Music Director from 1975 to 1988.
Performer Biography
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Canada's world-renowned large vocal ensemble, presented its first concert in 1895 and includes professional singers, auditioned volunteers, and choral apprentices.
Recording & Production
This recording of Handel's Messiah is a premiere recording of Sir Andrew Davis's new concert edition and was recorded live at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in December 2015.
