Messiah

While the rest of the Netherlands often listens to Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium at Christmas, in Leiden – just like in London – we set our sights on Handel’s Messiah. No Christmas without Messiah!

Messiah

Whoever says “Messiah” probably immediately thinks of the famous “Hallelujah”. But Handel’s Oratorium is much more than that. Handel composed the Messiah in London, where he led a successful opera empire. As a shrewd businessman, he wrote an oratorio that could be performed during the Holy Week, when all theatres were closed. That would certainly bring him full houses. That oratorio became the Messiah, in a sense an opera about Christ as messiah. It is clear that Handel was at his peak as an opera composer, bringing the biblical story to life in unprecedented ways. Handel’s beautiful arias, impressive choirs and great orchestral music are a feast for the ears.

Nieuwe Philharmonie conducted by Johannes Leertouwer

Violinist and conductor Johannes Leertouwer and the Nieuwe Philharmonie are regulars in the Stadsgehoorzaal. With his high-profile Brahms project, they go deep into the nineteenth century, but Leertouwer and his orchestra are at home in the eighteenth-century repertoire. Leertouwer leads his orchestra from his position as violinist and arranges the choir and soloists in front of the orchestra. This way he brings the Messiah story even closer to the public.

Hear Here!

Because we want to give you the opportunity to hear as much classical music as possible. You can buy concerts in bulk with a nice discount! When you buy at least four “Hoor bij ons” aka “Hear Here” concerts, you receive € 5 discount on these concerts and for all future concerts the entire season. This discount is connected to your e-mailadres. In order for this to work your first purchase must be the serie via this link.