> The musical work known as the Messiah had its debut in 1742, featuring anorchestra, choir, and soloists. Which composer wrote Messiah? Photo credit: BritannicaWritten by German-British composer George FridericHandel, Messiah is one of the most frequently performed choral works in Westernmusic. It's perhaps best-known for its powerful "Hallelujah" chorus. Some 260years later, it remains a fixture of the holiday season. Interestingly, Handel's Messiah was originally an Easter offering. Crowdsswarmed to the April performance and were immediately captivated by the theopening tenor call, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." As ajoyous and elaborate celebration of the rebirth of Christ, Handel's oratorio wasan instant success. In fact, at the site of the original performance, the MusickHall in Dublin, management pleaded that ladies leave the hoops of their skirtsat home in order to make room for more guests. Handel was a music prodigy from a young age. Born into an affluent Germanhousehold, the young composer played the organ by age 11 and had composed hisfirst opera by age 18. Soon after, he entered the music scene in London. Acommercial boom underpinned by overseas trade broke the monopoly on culturalpatronage by the nobility, and opened the door to new and varied expressions ofmusic. Yet, the opera scene was dramatic, costly and popular, so it wasn't longuntil Handel found himself drawn to the less logistically-complex oratorio. Likethe opera it utilized a full chorus, orchestra and soloists, but unlike theopera there were no costumes or fanfare. Though much of his work celebrated religion, Handel's focus was more human thandivine. His lyrics celebrated the reception of God's glory from a mortal pointof view, as seen in pieces like the jovial "Hallelujah." Messiah prophesied thebirth of Jesus Christ; the second exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and thefinal section heralded his Resurrection.Listen to Handel's revered "Hallelujah" chorus as performed by the Royal ChoralSociety below: