Bach Collegium Japan: Handel’s Messiah

Revered Bach specialist, Masato Suzuki, returns to the Barbican with his acclaimed Bach Collegium Japan to perform Handel’s beloved seasonal masterpiece. Handel’s masterpiece tells of the birth and life of Jesus and his victory over death, in spectacular choruses, moving arias (solo songs) and duets, and vivid recitatives (solo storytelling). It was such a hit at its Dublin premiere in 1742 that gentlemen were asked to leave their swords at home and ladies to forego hooped skirts so that more people could fit in the theatre. Over 280 years on, its appeal shows no sign of dimming, and for generations of fans it’s as essential to the Christmas season as turkey and tinsel. Bach Collegium Japan, one of the world’s foremost period performance ensembles, uses instruments and techniques as close as possible to those Handel himself would have known. And conductor Masato Suzuki has this beautiful music flowing through his veins – it was his father who founded the ensemble in 1990. Programme George Frideric Handel Messiah Performers Bach Collegium Japan Masato Suzuki conductor Rachel Nicholls soprano Terry Wey alto Mauro Peter tenor Dingle Yandell bass