NZSO presents fifth annual performance of Handel’s Messiah

30 November 2016 - NZSO media release for immediate release

NZSO presents fifth annual performance of Handel’s Messiah

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a performance of Handel’s famous oratorio Messiah, one of the great masterworks of Western art music.

This year, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is delighted to welcome back the Australian broadcaster and Handel scholar Graham Abbott to lead a historically informed performance of this festive oratorio. Having conducted the work more than 70 times, Abbott’s obsession with Handel is well documented and he brings fresh insights into every performance.

Joining Australia’s foremost Handel specialist are some of the best vocalists from Australasia. Napier-born soprano, Madeleine Pierard, returns to sing some of Handel’s most beautiful arias in her third Messiah with the NZSO. Joining her this year are three exceptional Australian singers - countertenor Christopher Field, tenor Henry Chooand bass James Clayton.

Universally popular since its first performance in Dublin in 1742, it has always been the wondrous choruses that have endeared Handel’s Messiah to new generations. Its constant stream of vocal music is expressive, melodic and memorable and right from its beginnings, Messiah was a work intended to be enjoyed by everyone - created for royalty and commoner alike.

A review printed in the Dublin Journal on the 17 April, read:

…Words are wanting to express the exquisite Delight it afforded to the admiring crouded Audience. The Sublime, the Grand, and the Tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestic and moving Words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished Heart and Ear…

When we think of this work, many of us may imagine titanic forces and a massive orchestra with hundreds of singers raising the roof with a powerful exultation of the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. However, Handel’s original context was less grand. The combined choirs supplied from the cathedrals came to only 24 singers (with soloists expected to sing with the chorus), and the instrumental ensemble numbered closer to 20 but with no more than 30 players.

This NZSO performance features 29 musicians plus New Zealand’s early music vocal ensemble The Tudor Consort which will include around 40 singers. This critically acclaimed choral group, which is made up of some of the Wellington region’s finest singers, celebrates its 30th birthday this year.

Make sure you book early for what is likely to be a sell-out celebration of one of the greatest choral masterworks ever written.

Rich, festive and welcoming, we invite you and your family to enjoy our annual performance of Handel’s glorious Messiah this December.

Messiah is supported by Peter and Carolyn Diessl.

ENDS

NZSO: Messiah

GRAHAM ABBOTT Conductor

MADELEINE PIERARD Soprano

CHRISTOPHER FIELD Countertenor

HENRY CHOO Tenor

JAMES CLAYTON Bass

THE TUDOR CONSORT

HANDEL Messiah

Libretto written by Reverend Charles Jennens

WELLINGTON | Michael Fowler Centre | Saturday 10 December| 6.30pm

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