G F Handel - The Story of Messiah. A Documentary by Howard Goodall CBE

Here, composer Howard Goodall presents his personal (2009) account of Handel's extraordinary oratorio. Indisputably a work of colossal musical genius, Handel's Messiah holds a momentous place in the repertoire of Western music. Its choruses and arias are among the most popular and celebrated pieces of sacred Baroque music ever written. Handel is reputed to have sobbed as he completed it saying: “I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God himself”. During its London premiere in 1743, Britain's King George II rose to his feet at the start of the Hallelujah chorus and remained standing until the end, a tradition that is followed around the world today, even in fervent republics such as the United States of America.

Another tradition is performing Messiah to raise money. Handel gave many performances to aid the Foundling Hospital and just 40 years after its composition the famous 18th century musicologist Charles Burney wrote: “This great work has been heard in all parts of the Kingdom with increasing reverence and delight; it has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, fostered the orphan and enriched succeeding managers of the oratorios more than any single production in this or any other country”.