Handel 2009

Messiah Memory Bank 2005

Festive Associations and Annual Occasions

'I always think of it as an Easter piece. I know that my redeemer liveth etc. but it's always done at Christmas, which I find very curious.'
Margaret Jackson-Roberts, Member of Crouch End Festival Chorus and the English Chamber Choir.

‘I think Christmas. In December, that’s when a lot of musicians get a lot of work, playing Messiah all over the places. Yes, definitely with Christmas.’
Kasia Tomczak, Harpsichordist

‘It’s an Easter thing. It’s a new season. I feel so much of it is about being uplifted, about being, not exactly reborn but about coming into a new, fresh, hopeful, vibrant feeling.  And Christmas isn’t that for me. Christmas is coming in, being insular, being in the depths of winter. This is much more of a spring and a life and a hope.’
Mary Loxley, Grants Officer

‘When I first knew my boyfriend he introduced me. He said “let’s go to the Liverpool Cathedral”, and I said “oh no” and he said “yes”, and ever since then I’ve listened to the Messiah every year with him, until he died, and now every year with my son at the Albert Hall.  Lovely, lovely memories – it’s a wonderful piece of music.’
Dorothy Hirst, Member of Northwood Live at Home scheme

Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street will be at the heart of the Handel celebrations this year. This landmark address is where Handel lived for thirty-six years of his life and where he died on 14 April 1759.