Friday
December 5 at 7:30 PM
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December 7 at 3 PM
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2025-26 Season > Handel’s Messiah
Boston Baroque returns to its cherished holiday traditions with performances of Handel’s Messiah, one of the most beloved and enduring works in classical music. Written in 1741, Messiah has captivated audiences for centuries with its radiant choruses, lyrical arias, and timeless message of hope and renewal.
This season features a stellar quartet of Boston Baroque favorites—soprano Amanda Forsythe, mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy, tenor Thomas Cooley, and baritone Roderick Williams—bringing fresh brilliance and expressive power to this iconic masterpiece. Boston Baroque’s Assistant Conductor, Filippo Ciabatti, makes his eagerly anticipated debut leading the orchestra and chorus in this treasured work, highlighted by the joyful “For unto us a child is born” and the majestic “Hallelujah” chorus. Celebrate the season with this unforgettable musical tradition.
Estimated Run Time
3 HRS | One 20-Minute Intermission
Location
NEC’s Jordan Hall | 30 Gainsborough St, Boston, MA 02115
CAST
COMPOSER
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
One of the towering figures of the Baroque era, George Frideric Handel was born in Germany, trained in Italy, and achieved lasting fame in England, where he spent most of his career. Known for his masterful operas, oratorios, and orchestral works, Handel had an extraordinary ability to blend dramatic expression with lyrical beauty.
Composed in 1741, Messiah is Handel’s most famous oratorio and one of the most performed choral works in Western music. Unlike many of his earlier oratorios, which told dramatic Biblical stories, Messiah offers a contemplative meditation on the life of Christ, from prophecy and birth to death and resurrection. The work draws from both the Old and New Testaments, set to a libretto by Charles Jennens.
Written in an astonishing 24 days, Messiah was originally intended for performance during Lent and Easter, not Christmas. Its premiere took place in Dublin in 1742, to great acclaim, and it has since become a cornerstone of holiday celebrations worldwide. With its dazzling arias, powerful choruses, and deeply spiritual message—embodied most famously in the majestic “Hallelujah” chorus—Messiah continues to inspire and uplift audiences nearly three centuries after its creation.
DIVE DEEPER
Read founding Music Director Martin Pearlman’s program notes on Handel’s Messiah.
