Handel's Messiah comes to a lucky Kilkenny town for Christmas

The Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Ireland under the direction of Peter Whelan  will perform the Messiah by George Frideric Handel on December 18, at the Church of the Assumption, Thomastown from 4pm  – 7:20pm. 

Themes of comfort, hope and joy run through this epic work; one of Handel’s most popular which famously received its première in Dublin in 1742. The Messiah was originally an Easter offering. It burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742. The audience swelled to a record 700, as ladies had heeded pleas by management to wear dresses "without Hoops" in order to make "Room for more company."

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Handel's decision to give a season of concerts in Dublin in the winter of 1741–42 arose from an invitation from the Duke of Devonshire, then serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.  In early March 1742, Handel began discussions with the appropriate committees for a charity concert, to be given in April, at which he intended to present Messiah. He sought and was given permission from St Patrick's and Christ Church cathedrals to use their choirs.

The performance in the Fishamble Street hall was originally announced for 12 April, but was deferred for a day. The orchestra in Dublin comprised strings, two trumpets, and timpani; the number of players is unknown. Handel had his own organ shipped to Ireland for the performances; a harpsichord was probably also used. The performance earned unanimous praise

Today the Messiah is a fixture of the Christmas season. In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, according to Laurence Cummings, director of the London Handel Orchestra, "the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional impact and uplifting messages."

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The text was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter by Charles Jennens. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.

Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with optional settings for many of the individual numbers. In the years after his death, the work was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and choirs.

For these performances the Irish Baroque Orchestra  partners with Chamber Choir Ireland to tell this wonderful story, under the direction of Peter Whelan. It promises to be a beautiful Christmas event not to be missed.