Chapelle Royal
JM Manai

Versailles, the sun of Yvelines

Chapelle Royale: Handel: Messiah

78000 Versailles

Share on:

Revived in London, Messiah quickly became Handel's flagship work. Performed thirty-six times during his lifetime, it soon represented all that music can have of the majestic and sublime.

Messiah is a work of greater renown than any other by Handel. This oratorio, which premiered in Dublin in 1742, was a resounding success at the time of its premiere: demand for tickets was so great that gentlemen had to be asked to ‘forego wearing their swords’ and ladies to come ‘without basket dresses’, in order to make room for more listeners and thus increase the takings ‘intended for charitable works’. For the great alto aria ‘He was despised’, Reverend Delany rose to his feet in the auditorium, exclaiming to the singer: ‘Woman, for this may all your sins be forgiven!

Charles Jennens divided the libretto dedicated to Christ into three parts: the Nativity, the Passion and Resurrection, and the Redemption. The ideal alternation of solo arias and choruses is admirable, and Handel's lyrical skill is everywhere present in the arias: suave or victorious, they are among the composer's most beautiful. The memorable choruses have remained in the ear for over two hundred and fifty years... In London, King George II was so struck by the ‘Hallelujah’ that he rose to his feet with emotion, followed by the entire audience, and every British audience since.

The Royal Opera Choir and Orchestra conducted by Gaétan Jarry will provide the perfect accompaniment for a quartet of first-rate young singers.

Informations

How to get there?

Versailles, the sun of Yvelines

Opéra Royal

Place d'Armes

78000 Versailles

New windowSee itinerary

The map