Messiah - The World's Most Loved Choral Work

“…the sheer variety of invention continues to astonish.”

Handel’s 'Messiah' is heard around the world during the Christmas season, being greatly appreciated and enjoyed. City Choir Dunedin with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Burchell, is pleased to again perform this oratorio.

Together with our soloists, soprano Rebecca Ryan, alto Tessa Romano, tenor Andrew Grenon and bass Joel Amosa, we will provide a fantastic opportunity for you to experience a world-class delivery of this dramatic and passionate work.

Handel began composing 'Messiah' on August 22, 1741, and completed it twenty-four days later. The scholar Clifford Bartlett writes, “such speed was not unusual, nor was the time of year... Bach could produce a cantata, organizing the copying of parts, and rehearse and perform it every week.

Three weeks to compose an oratorio without the immediate responsibility for organizing the performance was, therefore, ample. But, however hasty the composition, the power of the musical imagination, the wealth of ideas, the depth of inspiration, and the sheer variety of invention continue to astonish.”

'Messiah' is probably Handel's most famous work and its ubiquity has outreached anything Handel could ever have envisaged.