Handel's Messiah: An Enchanting Tapestry of Music and Tradition

By Anna Schwartz

If you’ve seen a Christmas movie or commercial in the last decade, you’ve likely at some point heard the glorious notes of the Hallelujah Chorus. This delightful three-minute piece of music is the end of the first half of the Messiah, a story set to music featuring quite a small group of orchestral instruments and a choir of about fifty-five singers.

Messiah is an oratorio, which is a piece of music somewhere in between a symphony and an opera. What does this mean you will see on stage? You will see a story unfold, told by the choir and four vocal soloists. However, unlike opera, there are no costumes or movement on stage. The soloists sit in front of the orchestra and stand when it is their turn to sing. The choir is behind the orchestra, and they, too, sit and stand throughout the concert depending on when they sing.

The soloists are the main “storytellers,” acting as narrators telling the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. The soprano and alto soloists are featured heavily in the first half of the piece, telling of the virgin Mary and her journey in giving birth to Jesus. After the soloists have set the stage, you will see the choir stand and sing “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” which places the choir in the position of onlookers as they witness this birth. Then, Handel takes you on a journey through Jesus’ life, before witnessing his Crucifixion (being nailed to a cross and left to die). After a brief reflective period after this death, you will witness Jesus coming back to life, which is when the triumphal Hallelujah Chorus rings out from the choir. Often, soloists will stand for this chorus, as will the audience! You may even be invited to sing along if you know a bit of it.

Messiah is a thrilling journey through one of the oldest holiday stories, featuring lesser-known music mixed with familiar holiday favourites. It’s the perfect show to get into the spirit of the season. This year, your WSO will perform the work at the historic Knox United Church. The ornate ceilings and stained glass windows will have you feeling your most festive self during the evening. We can’t wait to welcome you to Handel’s Messiah!

Anna Schwartz (she/her) is a multidisciplinary writer, educator, and conductor. She has written and spoken about the benefits of music and being a part of music-making throughout Manitoba and Northern Ontario.