Although conceived for modest forces, Handel’s Messiah, with its trumpets, drums and majestic Hallelujah Chorus, rapidly expanded to become the preserve of vast Victorian choral societies. Taking a back-to-basics approach, Pinchgut Opera present this Christmas staple in its original version as performed in Dublin in 1742. A cast of just 12 outstanding singers, together with the Orchestra of the Antipodes, aims to recreate the translucency of the work as Handel first imagined it, led from the harpsichord by Erin Helyard who is, remarkably, conducting the work on period instruments for the very first time.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

This year, we celebrate the holiday season with one of the most beloved works of Baroque music, Handel’s Messiah.

Renowned for its profound beauty and spiritual depth, Messiah isa deeply moving and transcendent experience.

Since its premiere in Dublin in 1742, Messiah has become one of the most performed choral works in Western music. Pinchgut will perform Handel’s original Dublin version with an ensemble of 12 singers. The original scoring with its transparency and lightness of touch will be a revelation even to those who know the work well.

Handel’s ability to convey complex emotions through his music makes Messiah a timeless work of art. Its blend of lyrical beauty and dramatic intensity ensures its place as a cornerstone of Baroque repertoire.

Erin Helyard leads the Orchestra of the Antipodes from the keyboard, just as Handel did, in his first time conducting Messiah on period instruments.

In a work that has become synonymous with Christmas and the holiday season, this a rare opportunity to discover it afresh, as the original audience did over 300 years ago