A Christmas performance of Handlel’s “Messiah”
This weekend, Vee and I went along to the Royal Albert hall in London for a splendid performance of “Messiah” composed by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Amazingly Handel wrote this oratorio over the course of just 24 days in the summer of 1741. The work consists of 53 pieces which take over two hours to perform.
We had terrific seats – on the arena floor, just five rows from the front. We had one full orchestra with organ, three large choirs, four distinguished solo singers, all overlooked by two huge Christmas trees. The conductor Brian Wright invited the audience to stand for the mighty “Hallelujah”.
You can see and hear a rendition of the “Hallelujah” from “Messiah” – another version sung at the Royal Albert Hall – here (be sure to turn up the volume):