Antiquarias Consort a sbor, G. F. Handel - Messiah

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759): Messiah, oratorium HWV 56

Antiquarias Consort

MUSICA DIVINA PRAGA  - chor

Jan Petrdlík - conductor

Václav Návrat - artistic leader

Ondřej Socha – tenor

Markéta Mátlová – soprano

Tomáš Král – bas

Markéta Cukrová – alt

The Messiah is Händel’s most important and popular work, and has gained almost an iconic reputation over time. It lasts more than 4 hours. The oratory was chosen by the respected expert in old music and the artistic leader of many older ensembles, Václav Návrat.

Händel left for England in 1710 and soon overcame his lack of English. He gained the favour of Queen Anne through an ode to her birthday and at her request composed a celebration of the Peace of Utrecht. In 1714 George I. came to the throne and deprived Händel of his privileges for his earlier failure to fulfil his Hannover duties. Händel retreated to Lord Burlington’s place. In 1720 he assisted in founding the Royal Music Academy, for whose opera house Händel was the composer. His works included Radamisto (1720), Ottone (1723), Giulio Cesare (1724) and Alessandro (1726). Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt after nine seasons, as the English no longer wanted operas in a foreign language. Still, Poro, Orlando and Alcina were composed, but after that Händel had to give in to public wishes and use English. He composed mostly using Old Testament motifs, which gained him the favour of patriots. These works include the oratorios Saul, Israel in Egypt, Samson, Belshazzar, Judas Maccabaeus and Jephtha. The Messiah was met with the greatest applause when it was premiered in Dublin in 1742. During his work on Jephtha he lost his sight but continued to play the organ part of his oratorios, for the last time in the Messiah eight days before his death. In England, Händel’s work is recognised as a national treasure.