Dublin Anniversary of Handel’s Messiah Premiere

On April 13, 1742, the great German composer, George Frideric Handel, performed his famous oratorio Messiah in Dublin. The world premiere occurred in Musick Hall on Fishamble Street in Temple Bar. Commemorating the 270th anniversary, on April 13, 2012, Our Lady’s Choral Society, conducted by Proinnsías Ó Duinn, sang the composition on the street where it was originally performed 270 years ago. The event was opened by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, who noted that Handel could promote a “great tourist attraction” to Ireland. The Lord Mayor went on to say that Dublin’s use of its literary heritage and connection, coupled with Handel’s global popularity could increase the opportunity to build upon the Handel heritage they already have there. The Temple Bar Cultural Trust organized the event free of charge in the hopes that it would encourage people to come, not only listen but to participate by singing along as well. An alfresco concert the weather held up throughout the alfresco concert, and several hundred people filled the streets while others listened from balconies or opened their office windows to hear the virtuoso performance.