This Spring, the St Andrews Chorus will be singing Handel’s Messiah in Holy Trinity Church on 5th April. This English-language oratorio was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741, for a libretto taken from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter and compiled by Charles Jennens. The music for Messiah was completed in 24 days and dedicated "To God alone the glory". This inscription and the speed of the composition encouraged the view that Handel wrote the music, especially the Hallelujah Chorus, in a fervour of divine inspiration, although history shows he composed most of his many works within similar timescales. The work was first performed at a charity concert in Dublin in April 1742 to popular acclaim. It was performed in London a year later to an initially modest public reception. However, the oratorio went on to gain in popularity from that time, becoming one of today’s best-known and most frequently performed classical choral works.
Handel lived in England from 1712 and initially made his reputation writing Italian opera, presenting more than 40 operas in London. He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s in response to changing public tastes and Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles a three-act opera, there are no dramatic roles or narrative voice and no direct characters or speech. It is seen as three part "commentary on Christ's Nativity; Passion, Resurrection and Ascension; and promise of redemption and victory over death".
Handel originally wrote Messiah for a modest vocal and instrumental group but made numerous revisions to his score during his lifetime, including to suit the requirements of particular singers. The first published score of the work, based on the original version, was issued in 1767, eight years after the composer's death,
and included none of the later revisions. It is generally agreed that there is no definitive version of Messiah.
In the years after his death, the work was adapted for performance on a larger orchestral and choral scale, including by Mozart. However, in more recent times, there has been a move to perform the work more in line with Handel's original intentions.
For the St Andrews Chorus performance, there will be a large chorus, however, the River Tay Sinfonia accompanying the choir will be a smaller ensemble of players, many of whom are experts in performing baroque music. The Sinfonia will be led by Ben Shute, an Associate Teacher at the University’s Music Centre and an internationally renowned authority on Bach and on historical performance practice.
The Chorus will also be joined by four highly acclaimed soloists who have all previously performed with us:
Jamie MacDougall, one of Scotland’s most versatile and popular tenors, who has had an extensive career as a singer and classical music presenter. He has recently presented and performed in the Proms in the Park and is playing the lead role in Scottish Opera’s tour of Harry Lauder. Jessica Leary, an accomplished soprano, who works extensively across the UK and internationally, including with companies such as Scottish Opera (singing Messiah in 2024) and the Dunedin Consort, and most recently at the Barbican and the Edinburgh International Festival. Dominic Mattos, a high countertenor with a versatile voice, who has extensive performance experience from opera (with Opera North and on BBC Radio 3) through to cabaret and pantomime. And acclaimed Northern Irish baritone, Ben McAteer, who has extensive experience of singing with many of the major UK and European opera companies and most recently sang the role of Pangloss in Marin Alsop’s new production of Candide in Vienna. The Chorus is excited to perform with these wonderful soloists and fellow musicians.
Photograph courtesy of Cameron Malcolm
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