Organization

Singer

Bass

Christian Immler

Soprano

Hanna Herfurtner

Contralto

Gaia Petrone

Alto

Conductor

Rubén Dubrovsky

Moderator

Martin Traxl

Photo direction

Volker Werner

Orchestra

Bach Consort  Wien

Scarlatti Arts International

Messiah -  (Messiah HWV 56)

Austria

Easter concert 2016:
Before the well-known ritual of the Roman Catholic Church, the Easter blessing Urbi et Orbi of the Pope in Rome, the ORF is showing the celebratory Easter concert of the Bach Consort Vienna for the third time. The concert series, which has already become a tradition, is traveling and this year is sending its musical Easter greetings from Klosterneuburg Abbey. Handel's Messiah thus returns to its original performance season: in accordance with the central importance of the Passion events, Handel always placed the Messiah in his concert series at Easter, while today it is mostly to be found in the pre-Christmas concert programmes. The oratorio outlines the central message of Christian salvation history: the prophecy and incarnation of Jesus, suffering, death, resurrection and the promise of his return. Handel, the great music dramatist, unfolds the events with theatrical power and touching empathy. The focus is on the passion and resurrection in the second part. Under the direction of Rubén Dubrovsky, the Bach Consort Vienna performs with the Salzburg Bach Choir and well-known soloists such as Michael Schade, Hanna Herfurtner, Gaia Petrone and Christian Immler. Martin Traxl leads through the show.

Klosterneuburg

Stift Klosterneuburg

Described by librettist Charles Jennens with typical English understatement as “a fine entertainment”, Handel’s Messiah was initially controversial as a biblical oratorio written for secular theatres. Within years it was however being “received with universal applause” and its composer’s purpose in delighting and charming his listeners has made this masterpiece an international favourite ever since. This eye-catching, audiovisual recording of Handel’s masterpiece with its cast of renowned soloists captures the 2016 Easter concert in the impressive baroque Basilica of Klosterneuburg, Austria.

Composer(s): Handel, George Frideric
Lyricist(s): Bible - Old Testament
Conductor(s): Dubrovsky, Ruben
Ensemble(s): Bach Consort Wien
Choir(s): Salzburg Bach Choir
Artist(s): Herfurtner, Hanna; Immler, Christian; Petrone, Gaia; Schade, Michael
Label: Naxos
Genre: Classical Concert
Period: Baroque
Catalogue No: NBD0061
Barcode: 730099006163
Release Date: 04/2017

Photos