This year marks the 260th anniversary of the death of George Frideric Handel who is considered to be one of the world’s greatest composers. To mark the occasion the Irish Baroque Orchestra are about to embark on a tour of Handel’s best-known work “Messiah”. The piece, which famously had its world premiere at Neal’s Music Hall on Fishamble Street in Dublin’s Temple Bar in 1742, will be performed at the National Opera House Wexford on December 5th, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin on December 6th and Galway Cathedral, December 7th.
Peter Whelan, Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, believes that it’s a chance for concert-goers to experience something truly inspiring.
“Messiah is Handel’s best-known work and continues to awe listeners 260 years after the composer’s death. Throughout the generations, it has a become an iconic fixture of the Christmas season. This series of concerts will be an opportunity for attendees to be transported back in time and to experience music that is truly inspiring”.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra are considered to be Ireland’s flagship period performance Orchestra. The group performs music from the Baroque era which broadly means music composed between 1600 and 1750. This period includes many of the world’s greatest composers including Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Telemann. Part of what makes their concerts unique is that their musicians perform with original instruments from the period or modern replicas.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra will perform Handel’s Messiah at The National Opera House Wexford on Thursday, December 5th,
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin on Friday, December 6th Galway Cathedral Saturday, December 7th. Performances are at 7.30 pm each night.
Tickets are priced between €10-€35 and can be purchased on the orchestra’s website www.irishbaroqueorchestra.com
