Handel's 'Messiah' continues to delight

In the world of showbusiness it’s a great event if people leave smiling or singing. After almost an hour standing listening to a religious oratorio in Dublin’s Fishamble Street, upwards of 1,000 people left doing both.

The performers in question, Our Lady's Choral Society, conducted by Proinnsías Ó Duinn, sang the most popular sections of Handel's Messiah to mark the 258th anniversary of its world premiere in Dublin on April 13th, 1742.

Tenor Ross Scanlon from Bray was guest soloist and the National Sinfonia played the music in the main event of what has become known as Handel's day.

The weather may also have had something to do with the smiling singing audience as, after 19 years of marking the anniversary, the weather was the best ever.

Organised by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, the performance of sections of the world famous music has turned into a daylong commemoration of Georg Friedrich Handel's Oratorio, which he conducted on virtually the same spot 258 years ago.

Laura Maye, deputy head of cultural development for the trust, said the Messiah was first performed in Neal's Musical hall, long since demolished, near the current Contemporary Music Centre. Neal's were also publishers and produced the very first Irish music publication, Neal's Traditional Irish Music.

Dublin Lord Mayor Emer Costello described it as a "magical thing" which showed the capital is a city of music and culture. "It shows the city off in a good light and shows the huge appetite for this type of cultural event," she said.

Minister for Arts Mary Hanafin, attending the first of 17 events between now and Saturday, said "most people associate the Messiah with Christmas, but now in April is the right time of year. It's an Easter event."

She noted that people of all ages and backgrounds attended what was "an open air, free international event but very much part of Dublin's culture and for everyone".

Between excerpts of the music, the conductor gave a little history lesson on the music and life of Handel and his contemporary Bach. The two composers were born just four weeks apart, not far from one another in Germany, yet they never met.

Mr Ó Duinn said the "parochial" Bach stayed near his Leipzig home and composed oratorios in German while the "cosmopolitan" and "flamboyant" Handel performed internationally. He said Handel "continued to dazzle audiences with his organ recitals" throughout his careers, despite ill health and failing eyesight.

Handel came to Dublin after an invitation to perform in some benefit concerts for the poor and sick. At the time he was writing "another oratorio, which he had with him under his arm, nearly complete and he completed it here" Mr Ó Duinn told the audience.

Among the performers were six singers from Germany who sing in Halle, Handel's birth place.

And for those who couldn't sing, the conductor had them all raising their hands at every mention of "Hallelujah" as the choir did an encore of that final chorus.

And they all left singing and smiling.