Handel's Messiah: Choir of the Netherlands Handel Society

Messiah
The Messiah is an oratorio by Georg Friedrich Handel, composed in 1741 and first performed in 1742 in Dublin. This magnificent choral work, with the well-known 'Hallelujah', was composed by Handel in the course of three weeks. The first performance in 1742 was so popular that the public was asked to leave the hoop skirts and swords at home to make room. The work is often performed in December around Christmas time, probably because it deals with the announcement, the birth and death of Christ, but also because of the songs that are often sung at Christmas time, such as 'For unto us a child is born'. No holiday season is complete without the Messiah!

The Netherlands Handel Society
The Netherlands Handel Society is an oratorio choir from the region ‘het Gooi’. Since its foundation in 1946, the Netherlands Handel Society has performed Handel's Messiah every year, both in its home base of Grote Kerk Naarden and in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The Messiah is performed by the choir of the Netherlands Handel Society, under the artistic direction of Boudewijn Jansen and with the accompaniment of the Holland Symphony Orchestra, with renowned organ player Wybe Kooijmans on the organ and David Jansen on harpsichord. The soloist quartet consists of Judith van Wanroij (soprano), Dave ten Kate (counter tenor), Stefan Kennedy (tenor) and Raoul Steffani (baritone).