I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God himself
In the summer of 1741. in a frenzy of inspiration, Handel wrote Messiah. He completed it in three weeks.
STANLEY SADIE has compiled from contemporary sources an account of the events leading up to the first performance of Messiah 230 years ago in Dublin. with Gerard Heinz as Handel Clifford Norgate as Narrator
Most of the musical extracts are from the recording by the LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and CHORUS, conducted by COLIN DAVIS , With HEATHER HARPER , HELEN WATTS , JOHN WAKEFIELD and JOHN SHIRLEY-QUIRK
Producer ALAN HAYDOCK
('Messiah' from Ely Cathedral: BBC2, Good Friday, 6.15 pm)