Händel: Messiah

The Messiah was written at great speed by Handel during the winter of 1741--2, and was received to great acclaim its first performance in Dublin in 1742. Charles Jennens compiled the text from the Bible, and the work is cast in three sections. Although a success in Dublin, the work had a less than warm welcome when it was performed in London without its title, and called 'a New Sacred Oratorio' to avoid causing offence to the rather puritanical British public and press. This ruse failed however, and the press were hostile. Jennens and Handel also fell out, as Jennens felt that the composer hadn't taken enough time and care over the music! This was a low point for Handel, and he seriously contemplated leaving the UK and returning to Germany. Eventually, after a few years, and after a series of performances for charitable causes, the work became a firm favourite. It has been linked ever since with the composer's generous charitable donations to the Foundling Hospital, of which he was a director along with William Hogarth and Thomas Coram. Messiah is the masterpiece of the English Baroque, and for 200 years has been performed by both professional and amateur choirs around the world. Handel's gift for truly memorable tunes and (notwithstanding Jennens's concerns) the care he took in setting the text have ensured that it has remained one of the most famous works ever composed.

Further information
- 'John Mark Ainsley sings with remarkable spiritedness throughout, exhibiting an accomplishment
and beauty of his articulation in his early numbers which afford constant repetition.' Gramophone
- Booklet note and sung texts
- 2009 was the 250th anniversary of Handel's death

Tracklisting

Handel: Messiah Part I - Part II (beginning)
1. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Sinfonia 03:02
2. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Tenor) Comfort Ye My People 02:50
3. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Air (Tenor): Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted 03:20
4. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed 02:51
5. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Bass): Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts 01:19
6. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Air (Bass): But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming? 04:04
7. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: And He Shall Purify 02:29
8. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Alto): Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive 00:23
9. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Air (Alto) & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion 05:26
10. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Bass): For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth 02:01
11. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Air (Bass): The People That Walked In Darkness 03:17
12. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born 04:04
13. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 02:30
14. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Soprano): There Were Shepherds 00:30
15. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Soprano): And The Angel Said Unto Them 00:31
16. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Soprano): And Suddenly There Was With The Angel 00:16
17. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest 01:52
18. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Air (Soprano): Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion 04:16
19. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Recitative (Alto): Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Open'd 00:24
20. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Duet (Alto & Soprano): He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd 04:34
21. Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light 02:20
22. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God 02:21
23. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Alto): He Was Despised 09:50

Handel: Messiah Part II (conclusion) - Part III
1. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs 01:42
2. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed 01:47
3. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray 03:43
4. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Recitative (Tenor): All They That See Him , Laugh Him To Scorn 00:40
5. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: He Trusted In God 02:18
6. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Recitative (Tenor): Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart 01:48
7. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Tenor): Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow 01:21
8. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Recitative (Tenor): He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living 00:17
9. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Tenor): But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell 02:20
10. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates 02:58
11. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Recitative (Tenor): Unto Which Of The Angels 00:18
12. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him 01:27
13. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Bass): Thou Art Gone Up On High 03:11
14. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word 01:04
15. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Soprano): How Beautiful Are The Feet 02:02
16. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands 01:29
17. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Bass): Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together? 01:25
18. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder 01:43
19. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Recitative (Tenor): He That Dwelleth In Heaven 00:11
20. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Air (Tenor): Thou Shalt Break Them 01:58
21. Messiah, HWV 56, Part II: Chorus: Hallelujah! 03:35
22. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Air (Soprano): I Know That My Redeemer Liveth 05:47
23. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Chorus: Since By Man Came Death 02:02
24. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Recitative (Bass): Behold, I Tell You A Mystery 00:34
25. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Air (Bass): The Trumpet Shall Sound 08:30
26. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Recitative (Alto): Then Shall Be Brought To Pass The Saying 00:16
27. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Duet (Alto & Tenor): O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? 01:02
28. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Chorus: But Thanks Be To God 02:02
29. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Air (Soprano): If God Be For Us 05:06
30. Messiah, HWV 56, Part III: Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain...Amen 06:49