Recorded by the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Choir under the direction of Peter Whelan, this landmark release of Messiah returns one of the most celebrated works in the choral repertoire to its Dublin origins.
 
With a compact choir and a distinguished cast of soloists drawn from within the ensemble, the performance captures the clarity, intimacy, and expressive immediacy that would have characterised Handel’s original conception.
 
Soloists
Hilary Cronin (soprano),
Helen Charlston, Alexander Chance, Nathan Mercieca (alto),
Guy Cutting (tenor),
Frederick Long, Edward Grint (bass)
 
Under Whelan’s direction, the result is a reading of freshness and vitality, illuminating familiar choruses and arias with renewed transparency and dramatic pace. Part of the orchestra’s ongoing exploration of Ireland’s rich 18th-century musical heritage, this recording reconnects Messiah with the city where it was first heard, and where its story began.