Opus 1700 - Handel

Enjoy Handel’s iconic Hallelujah Chorus, The Trumpet Shall Sound, and the monumental finale Worthy is the Lamb sung expertly by our Chamber Singers and a cast of world-class soloists. Hear the Rest of the Story. While Part 1, the Christmas Portion of Handel’s immortal Messiah, has become a holiday tradition, rarely can one experience the breathtaking music in Parts 2 and 3.

Eight of the country’s leading Baroque vocalists bring their artistry as soloists, and as a dynamic vocal ensemble, to provide alternative textures with our Chamber Singers and chamber orchestra to lift Handel’s mighty Messiah to even greater heights.

The rousing Hallelujah Chorus, which concludes Part 2, is one of the most famous pieces of Baroque music, and by far the most widely known section of the work. Audiences oftentimes stand during performances, a tradition that allegedly began when King George II stood up during the chorus at debut London performance. Stand or sit – we’ll wow you either way!

The composition of Messiah, the complete 260-page oratorio, was composed in just 24 days. Handel wasn’t getting much sleep or even eating much food. When his assistants brought him his meals, they were often left uneaten. His servants often found him in tears as he composed. When he completed Hallelujah, he reportedly told his servant, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”