“Messiah“ occupies a unique position in Handel’s work. Its strongly universal character and directness of expression, which appeal to men of all creeds, make it the most renowned work in the whole of the composer’s monumental output.
Passion, cantata, opera, instrumental music – that is, all the important musical genres of the time – these formed the basis of Handel’s new art-form, which developed with ever increasing impetus from the end of 1738 onwards and found a particularly complex realization in “Messiah“.
It is often been said that Handel composed “Messiah” for his visit in Ireland, wither he had been onvited by the Lord Lieutenant, William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, to perform his music for the benefit of charity. The first performance took place on 13 April 1742 in Neale’s Music Hall, Dublin. After Handel’s return from Ireland “Messiah” received fifty-six performances in England during his lifetime.