MESSIAH
Pretoria Bach Choir

Friday 10 November 2000 at 20h00
UNISA Old Mutual Auditorium

Die musiek

Handel se oratorium Messiah is sekerlik dié heel bekendste groot gewyde musikale werk. Die Hallelujah-koor is alombekend en bemind. Die werk is al in baie tale vertaal -- Duits, Afrikaans en Zoeloe ingesluit. Die Pretoria Bachkoor sing die outentieke Engelse teks.

Messiah is in 'n verstommende kort tyd van slegs 24 dae voltooi. Handel het hom skaars die tyd gegun om te eet, en het dikwels raas gekry van sy huishoudster. Nadat hy die Hallelujah-koor voltooi het, was sy woorde: "I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the Great God Himself!" Toe die manuskrip klaar was, het hy daarna gewys en eenvoudig gesê "I think God visited me."

According to historical sources, so many tickets were sold for the first performance in Dublin in 1742 that, in view of the anticipated crowds, notices were published in the newspapers begging the ladies not to wear their hoopskirts to the concert and the men to leave their swords at home.

It was during the first London performance that the audience, carried away by the power of the Hallelujah Chorus, arose in concert as though by a prearranged signal. Ever since then, audiences all over the world express similar respect by rising at the onset of this chorus and remaining standing until the conclusion of this section, a tradition followed to this day.