MESSIAH / HAENDEL (EXCERPTS) – CHARITY CONCERT #STANDWITHUKRAINE

All proceeds from the ticket sale will be used to help refugees from Ukraine.

The Oratorio Messiah stands out among the many works of G. F. Haendel. Undoubtedly, it was its power of expression and the universal nature of its message that caused Messiah to be deemed a masterpiece already during the composer’s lifetime. Although composed in just 24 days, it still enjoys unwavering popularity today and receives an enthusiastic reception from the audience every time it is performed.

The libretto prepared by Charles Jennens is a compilation of texts from the King James Bible and The Universal Prayer. In fact, each of the three parts of the work deals with a different topic. The first part tells the prophecy of the coming of the Savior, while the second movement, crowned with the famous chorus Hallelujah, tells the story of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The final part, on the other hand, focuses on the announcement of the salvation of mankind.

In terms of music, Messiah is characterized by an abundance of different means of musical expression while maintaining a small cast of performers. During the composer’s lifetime, the group of vocalists and instrumentalists did not exceed 60 people, and it is this original sound that the Artists of the Polish Royal Opera want to recreate. Hence, the excellent soloists and the vocal ensemble will be accompanied by an ensemble of period instruments – Capella Regia Polona. Krzysztof Garstka will sit at the harpsichord and conduct the performance.

Fragments performed (numbered according to Bärenreiter):

Part I

1. Sinfonia
2. Recitative (tenor): Comfort ye my people
3. Aria (tenor): Ev’ry valley shall be exalted
5. Recitative (bass): Thus saith the Lord of Hosts
6. Aria (alto): But who may abide the day of His coming
7. Chorus: And He shall purify
9. Recitative (bass): For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
10. Aria (bass): The people that walked in darkness
12. Pifa
15. Chorus: Glory to God in the highest
17. Recitative (alto): Then shall the eyes of the blind be open’d
17a. Duet (alto and soprano): He shall feed his flock like a shepherd

Part II

19. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God
20. Aria (alto): He was despised and rejected of men
21. Chorus: Surely
22. Chorus: And with His stripes
24. Recitative (tenor): All they that see Him
25. Chorus: He trusted in God
26. Recitative (tenor): Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
27. Arioso (tenor): Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
34a. Aria (soprano): How beautiful are the feet of them
36. Aria (bass): Why do the nations so furiously rage together
38. Recitative (tenor): He that dwelleth in heaven
38a. Aria (tenor): Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron

Part III

40. Aria (soprano): I know that my Redeemer liveth
41. Chorus: Since by man came death
46. Aria (soprano): If God be for us, who can be against us?
47. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

PERFORMERS

MARTA BOBERSKA SOPRANO
ANETA ŁUKASZEWICZ ALTO
SYLWESTER SMULCZYŃSKI TENOR
 PAWEŁ MICHALCZUK BASS

THE CHORUS OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA

THE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA

JAKUB SZAFRAŃSKI CHORUS MASTER

KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA HARPSICHORD, CONDUCTOR

Duration: approx. 1 h 30 min

The seats in the auditorium are not numbered.

PLEASE NOTE: the entrance to the Royal Theatre in Łazienki Park is located in Agrykola street.

One hour before the performance as well as for an hour after it is finished, the audience can use the electric cart running between the Royal Theater and the Łazienki Gate at the corner of Myśliwiecka / Agrykola streets.