The Messiah, by Georg Friedrich Händel

The oratorio The Messiah is considered by many to be G. F. Handel’s masterpiece. This German-born, naturalized-English composer is considered one of the greats of Baroque music and left an extraordinary artistic legacy. Händel constructed the narrative of this oratorio from biblical texts and themes and composed The Messiah in just three weeks, between August and September 1741. It was premiered in Dublin, seven months later, before an intimate audience of 700 people. Although conceived for and first performed during Easter, after Händel's death it became a tradition to perform the oratorio during Advent.