Hume Conservatorium's Voiceworks and St Saviour's Cathedral Choir: Messiah, Palm Sunday Performance

Handel’s Messiah

On the 283rd anniversary its Dublin Premiere

Sunday April 13, 2025 at 4pm

Come and join us for one of the most acclaimed choral masterpieces in the repertoire. Composed in 1741 and performed ever since around the world, Messiah has some of the most well known and moving music – justifying its almost universal appeal. The Hallelujah Chorus has even been used in advertisements for everything from hot dogs to cars.

For this performance Hume Conservatorium Voiceworks have joined forces with St. Saviour’s Cathedral Choir and members of the community to create the Messiah Choir. Joining the choir are soloists: Soprano- Rachel Mink, Counter Tenor - Tobias Cole, Tenor - George Brenan and Bass - Richard Orchard. Well known organist - Dr. Brett McKern will be accompanying using his new arrangement of the orchestral score. A small ensemble of wind and brass rounds out the instrumentalists for our performance.

About Messiah

The text for Messiah was compiled by Charles Jennens. Jennens's intention was to acclaim the "Mystery of Godliness", using a compilation of extracts from the Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible, and Psalms from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Handel sets this text in a classic three Act structure, bring all his skills from a career in composing Italian operas, to produce a powerful and exhilarating musical journey.

Unlike many compositions- Messiah was composed quickly – taking a mere 24 days. And for the rest of his life, Handel was adapting and modifying it as needed for different performances and musical forces. After his death, others continued to adapt it, and by the end of the 19th Century grand symphonic forces and massed choirs were almost the norm.

In this performance we are using the Watkins Shaw edition from 1965, which removed over 2 centuries of adaptions, returning to a version which Handel would have recognised. It is since become the standard for most performances. More detailed information about the history and structure of Messiah is available here: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Messiah_(oratorio)

Program

Overture
Comfort Ye
Ev’ry Valley
And the Glory of the Lord
Thus saith the Lord
But who May abide/for he is like a refiner
Behold a virgin shall conceive
O thou tallest good tidings to Zion
For unto us a child is born
Rejoice Greatly
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened
He shall feed his flock (V2)
Come unto him all ye who labour (V2)

Interval

Pastoral
Behold the lamb of God
He was despised
Surely he hath borne our griefs
And with his stripes
All we like sheep
All they that see him laugh have gone astray
He trusted in God
Thy rebuke hath broken his heart
Behold and see if there by any sorrow
Lift up your heads
Hallelujah
I know that my redeemer liveth
Since by man came death
Behold I tell you a mystery
And the trumpet shall sound
But thanks be to God

Read more on our website!

https://humecon.nsw.edu.au/eve...