Nothing says Christmas in Melbourne like the Myer windows and the MSO’s Messiah, both crowd-pleasers seeking ways to keep things fresh while giving the people what they want. This year, both have turned towards Scandinavia for inspiration: Myer to Denmark for its Lego Christmas story, the MSO to Sweden for guest conductor Sofi Jeannin.

Jeannin is a highly credentialled choral specialist, having studied both singing and conducting at the Stockholm Royal College of Music. Sunday’s pared-down performance of Handel’s Messiah landed somewhere between the big sound favoured by Sir Andrew Davis in recent years and Chad Kelly’s minimalist 2023 incarnation, but without the energetic tempi of Kelly’s modern baroque performance style.

By contrast, Jeannin’s approach gave both orchestra and singers the time and space needed for Handel’s emotional heft to be delivered and appreciated. This was particularly apparent in several of the arias, where the soloists were able to add colour and emphasis to the traditional solo lines.

Sofi Jeannin leads the MSO Chorus in Handel’s Messiah. Photo © Laura Manariti

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