Handel, Messiah for light into the dark

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January 2023 Next
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The ORF Radio Wien Choir, together with the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra and stars from the Vienna State Opera, will perform George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.

There is hardly a more famous choral work than the "Hallelujah" from G. F. Handel's "Messiah". This is just one of the many powerful and famous arias and choruses in this extraordinary oratorio, which has delighted audiences and musicians all over the world since its premiere in Dublin in 1742. Handel himself continued to develop his music after the premiere and repeatedly made changes to the score. The libretto is largely taken from the Old Testament and takes a prophetic look at Jesus Christ, the Messiah, recounting his birth, passion and resurrection and giving a glimpse of his return on Judgement Day.

Stars of the Vienna State Opera
"Messiah" is an ecclesiastical oratorio that features a unique interplay between orchestra, choir and soloists in its dramaturgy and proclamation of the biblical word. The solo parts are performed by high-calibre singers: Monica Theiss-Eröd sings soprano and Adrian Eröd bass. Together with the Scottish contralto Stephanie Maitland and the Japanese-British tenor Hiroshi Amako, stars of the Vienna State Opera will be singing in St Stephen's Cathedral.

10 years of the Radio Wien Choir
With the performance of the "Messiah", the Radio Wien Chor reaches a musical highlight since its foundation ten years ago. The ensemble, which consists of employees and friends of ORF, has already performed parts of the "Messiah" on television at Christmas 2023 - together with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra - in ORF Vienna's national programme for "Licht ins Dunkel". The Radio Wien Choir sings classical music with great fervour, but is also committed to Viennese song and, of course, pop music - all in the colour of Radio Wien. The choir was founded by former ORF Vienna regional director Dr Brigitte Wolf. Since then, the musical direction has been in the hands of the trained church musician and conductor Rainer Keplinger, who is an editor and programme manager at ORF III in his day job. Numerous radio and television recordings as well as live performances on ORF round off the musical activities of the Radio Wien Choir.

The Vienna Cathedral Orchestra
Together with the Vienna Cathedral Orchestra, a slightly shortened version of the "Messiah" will be performed in St Stephen's Cathedral during the Easter Octave. The Vienna Cathedral Orchestra performs almost every Sunday in St Stephen's Cathedral and interprets classical and contemporary literature under the baton of cathedral conductor Markus Landerer and concertmaster Wang-yu Ko. This makes the orchestra one of the absolute top professionals in church music, even when it comes to performing the "Messiah". Florian C. Reithner will be playing the organ and cembalo.

Donation for "Licht ins Dunkel"
The Radio Wien Choir - as a registered non-profit organization - has defined its goal as "singing" donations for "Licht ins Dunkel" by making music. The net proceeds from ticket sales for the performance of "Messiah" will also go to "Licht ins Dunkel". However, such a large concert would not be possible without strong partners. St. Stephen's Cathedral, ORF Vienna with its regional director Edgar Weinzettl, all the singers and musicians as well as the concert agency "Kunst und Kultur" are supporting this project with their personal commitment so that the greatest possible donation result can be achieved for "Licht ins Dunkel".

Program and cast

Georg Friedrich Händel: Oratorium „Messiah“ (HWV 56, shortened version)

120 Minutes, no intermission

 

Performers

ORF Radio Wien Choir
Vienna Cathedral Orchestra

Monica Theiss-Eröd, soprano
Stephanie Maitland, alto
Hiroshi Amako, tenor
Adrian Eröd, bass

Florian C. Reithner, organ and cembalo

Rainer Keplinger, conductor

St. Stephen's Cathedral

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