Handel's Messiah in Atlanta

Handel's Messiah, an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, comes to Atlanta for a special holiday performance. The text, compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter, reflects on Jesus as the Messiah through prophecies, the annunciation, the Passion, and the resurrection. It is one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra brings this masterpiece to life as part of the Coca-Cola Holiday Performance series. The oratorio's structure resembles opera but without dramatic impersonations, focusing instead on an extended reflection on its theme. The orchestra's rendition offers a rich orchestral and choral experience.

The performance covers the three parts of the oratorio, including the triumphant Hallelujah chorus. Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, and this performance continues the tradition of large-scale presentations while honoring the work's emotional journey.