Messiah

Friday 8  / Saturday 9 July 2022

BOOK TICKETS

The most performed piece of classical music worldwide, George Frideric Handel composed his Messiah in just 24 days, writing morning to night. While not exceptionally fast by the composer’s own standards, what’s extraordinary is how, in a period of weeks, Handel created a work of such invention, inspiration and timelessness that it has endured for three centuries (and counting), nothing less than an icon of the Western classical canon.

The popularity of the work was instantaneous; the management of Dublin’s Musick Hall, where the Messiah was first performed, implored concertgoers to forgo dresses with hoops, so as to make ‘room for more company.’

Even Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart confessed himself humble in the face of Handel’s genius. ‘Handel knows better than any of us what will make an effect,’ Mozart said. ‘When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt.’

Musically, Handel’s most significant innovation was to elevate the chorus to equal status with his soloists. This demanded choral writing of astonishing power and drama, monumental blocks of vocal sound. The sense of joy bursting from the Hallelujah chorus is second to none; this is music to lift the spirits.

YOUR CONCERT EXPERIENCE

When to arrive
Doors to Llewellyn Hall will open at 7pm, with the concert commencing at 7.30pm. Please allow sufficient time for parking.

Box Office
The Box Office in the ground floor Athenaeum will be open from 6pm for ticket purchase and collection. The Box Office is card only (no cash). 

Accessibility
FM radio assisted hearing units are available in Llewellyn Hall. To reserve a unit, call CSO Direct at least 24 hours in advance on 02 6262 6772 (weekdays 10am – 3pm). Hearing units can be collected from the Box Office in the ground floor Athenaeum. For information about wheelchair seating and other accessibility requirements, call CSO Direct or enquire directly with Llewellyn Hall.

Cloaking
Cloaking is not available at this time. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Parking
Free after-hours and weekend parking is available in front of the ANU School of Music, behind the ANU School of Art and in the Baldessin multi-storey carpark off Childers Street.

Refreshments
Atticus Coffee (Level 5, ANU School of Music) and the Athenaeum (ground floor) and Level 4 bars will be open pre-concert and at interval. The bars will accept card only (no cash).

Pre-concert conversation
There is no pre-concert conversation for this event. 

Interval
There will be a 20-minute interval from 8.50pm to 9.10pm (approx.).

Concert programs
Artist profiles and the program note for this concert are included in the sixth edition of rest, the CSO concert magazine. The libretto, orchestra and choir lists and further commentary will be available in a supplementary program booklet. Complimentary copies of both rest and the booklet will be available at the concert. The program note is also available online.

Running order
6.00pm – Box Office opens
7.00pm – Doors to Llewellyn Hall open
7.30pm – Concert commences
8.50pm – Interval (approx. timing)
10.15pm – Concert concludes (approx. timing)

COVID SAFETY

The CSO is working closely with Aspen Medical to deliver COVID-safe concert experiences in line with ACT Government requirements.  

All CSO events are delivered in line with ACT Government COVID-safe requirements. Read more