Organization

Conductor

Robert King

Singer

Soprano

Alexandra Oomens

Contralto

Hilary Summers

Alto

Tenor

Joshua Ellicott

Bass

Edward Grint

Others

Choir of The King's Consort

Müpa Budapest

The King's Consort

Budapest

Hungary

Béla Bartók National Concert Hall

The King's Consort: Messiah

Private

Public

Messiah HWV 56

Approved

Listening to Handel's enormous three-part work detailing the life of Christ, you will be amazed by one fact: the composer wrote the composition in late-summer 1741 in just 24 days, using a compilation of texts from the English poet Charles Jennens's collection of biblical quotes. The work was first performed in public in Dublin on 13 April 1742. Following its 1743 London premiere, the oratorio was performed in the city each year - including 34 times during Handel's lifetime. The proceeds were donated to the Foundling Hospital for orphaned children. This tradition helped establish The Messiah as a cult work in the UK. The English harpsichordist, conductor and musicologist Robert King was a student at St. John's College of Cambridge and sang in the college's famous choir. It was also during his university years that he founded the historical ensemble, The King's Consort, who play period instruments. For several decades, the ensemble has been performing concerts and making records featuring important compositions from the early music repertoire, including the works of Monteverdi, Purcell, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and Mozart. The four soloists, Alexandra Oomens, Hilary Summers, Joshua Ellicott and Edward Grint, represent the elite of English vocal culture.

English

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble