Thinking of seeing Handel’s messiah. Anyone seen it before ?

[Peterpiperspickledpepper]

Last few years I’ve started listening to classical music. Of an evening both me and DP enjoy sitting reading with Classic fm in the background (which I appreciate isn’t especially high brow but has been a great introduction to different composers etc).
Bridgewater hall in Manchester has the Halle playing Handel’s Messiah in December. I actually enjoyed listening to a gospel version years ago and have heard snippets of the original but not the full version. Would it be a good introduction to classical concerts ? A friend went to a Holst concert a few weeks ago and enjoyed it but the conductor did warn the audience that it wasn’t an ‘easy’ piece to listen to….

its excellent, very accessible . I’ve been to the bridgewater hall one before a few times and they give you a little booklet explaining it and it has all the words.

I've sung it a couple of times and it's great fun if you like that type of music! The Halle orchestra are very well known so it should be a good concert. The whole Messiah is quite long though.

PS I love Classic FM.

It's an amazing piece to hear in a concert hall - definitely go!

I've played in an orchestra for it before. Go. It's wonderful, I'm very jealous.

I sang it with a choral society too (30yrs ago 🤣) I'll be honest, I've forgotten most of it, but will listen now. Beautiful piece of work, it's my memory that's terrible lol.

I'm sure you'll both enjoy it 🎵🎶

I’ve been to it a couple of times; it’s lovely to hear in the Christmas period. They put it on in a cathedral near us every few years, which is excellent

Go for it, it'll be beautiful!

Others you may enjoy:

Faure: Requiem
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Mozart: Requiem
Handel: Zadok the Priest
Orf: Carmina Burana

All wonderful to watch live

It's long. I heard it in a very cold Southwark Cathedral about 70 years ago.

Yes! Do attend. It is one of the finest pieces of classical music everyone should hear at least once . My father sang tenor solos of the Messiah in his time. It is something I listen to over and over and is always inspiring.

It's lovely - and long. I think it would be a great introduction though because a lot of it will be familiar, either from Classic FM or snippets you hear on the TV, in adverts etc. I expect the performance would be quite Christmassy and festive, and ultimately Handel is trying to draw you in to a familiar story and make it awe-inspiring, not aiming to challenge or stretch as is maybe the case with the Holst your friend went to.

I really enjoyed Handel's Messiah and I'm not a massive classical music listener so I definitely think it's worth going.

Yes, go. I can't think of a concert I'd rather go to around Christmas time. I used to know it well, as I was in a choir in my youth. It's so good as a live performance.

Its a completely different experience hearing it performed live, I'd go in a heartbeat.

I'd love to go again. My parents famously took me when I was 3 years old and i apparently sat still! Not seen it since. It would be amazing for Christmas.

Its very long and many pieces are solos and difficult to listen to, its not all Hallelujah Chorus.

It is good but long.

A lot of people walk out as soon as the Hallelujah Chorus is finished. Please don't do that.

Another to watch:

Verdi: Requiem

The best place to watch a lot of classical music is in a church or cathedral - it's where most of it was written for. You may also find a lot of local amateur orchestras and choirs (especially in Manchester where you have the specialist music schools and universities) play a lot of these pieces to a good standard for half the price.

definitely go and enjoy it! Would recommend listening to the full piece (eg on Spotify) a few times beforehand.

dobt know if this is a thing anymore but last time I went the audience really did stand up for the hallelujah chorus - which is apparently an old tradition, so be prepared for that just in case!

It's wonderful, go!

I'm part of a philharmonic choir and we're rehearsing Handel's "Samson" at the moment. Can't wait until we rehearse with the orchestra. It's wonderful!

I go every Christmas to hear it performed at St John's Smith Square in London, it's fantastic. I would agree with Pattygonia that it helps to listen through to it before you go. Hope you have a wonderful time!

Choral music is great to listen to live, and even better to perform (some choirs offer sing-along workshops which are worth looking out for). I haven't seen the Messiah performed for 20 years - the audience did stand during the Hallelujah Chorus, which is a slightly cringe-y tradition.

Handel's Messiah is a beautiful classic Christmas celebration and the Halle orchestra will be brilliant. We used to take part in/see a version of it somewhere every year and it is very dependent on the performers. But you won't go wrong with this. Enjoy!

Thanks everyone ! I’ll have a look at ticket prices.

Another vote for yes, do go. It's a great symphonic piece to see and hear in person. DH and I usually attend a matinee performance at our city's symphony (in the US). We have a festive lunch at a restaurant near the concert hall before. It's one of our long-standing Christmas traditions for just the two of us.