Episode 30: Handeling Messiah with Nicholas McGegan

The conversation continues with conductor and baroque specialist Nicholas McGegan as we dive deeper into the story behind Handel’s Messiah. From the fascinating (and sometimes prickly!) relationship between Handel and librettist Charles Jennens to the surprising origins of the work in secular performance spaces, this episode uncovers the history, drama and humanity behind one of the most beloved choral masterworks of all time. Nic shares vivid stories about the legendary singers who first performed Messiah, explains why Handel put the words first, and reflects on what makes this music timeless. Plus, A. Dennis Sparger offers personal insight as The Bach Society prepares to present a major portion of this extraordinary work. View the Bach Talk Show Notes here. Learn more about The Bach Society of Saint Louis at bachsociety.org. Bach Talk is a Registered trademark of The Bach Society of Saint Louis.