THE CLOSING OF THE RIJEKA SUMMER NIGHTS 2007

Georg Friedrich Händel:

MESSIAH, oratorio

Conductor: Miroslav Homen

19^th July 2007., Torpedo Factory at 21:00

When the “Messiah” oratorio was first performed in London in Covent Garden in 1753, King George the Second and all the other visitors showed their admiration to the author by listening to the chorus “Hallejulah” standing on their feet. A few days later Händel visited Lord Kinnoul, who expressed his compliments on the “noble entertainment”. The composer replied: “My Lord, I should be sorry if I only entertained them. I wished to make them better”.

“Messiah” is Handel’s most famous work, created in only 24 days, and its premiere was held in Dublin on the 13^th April in 1742. This oratorio of meditative character does not have a classic movement but uses parts of the Old and New Testaments. The first part talks about the prophesy of the Messiah’s coming, the second part describes Jesus’ sacrifice and death, and the third talks about the belief in eternal life.