Crystal Palace set a record in 1885, on the bicentenary of Handel’s birth, with his best-loved choral masterpiece featuring a choir of 4,000, an orchestra of 500 and an audience of 87,769! The Hallé's traditional performance may be more modest but is no less unmissable, especially this year, the 250th anniversary of Handel's death. Making his Hallé debut, Christian Curnyn whose Handel performances have been widely acclaimed for their idiomatic sense of drama, style and pacing – is joined by some of the best singers among the younger generation of Baroque interpreters. Magnificent choruses, soaring arias and colourful orchestral accompaniment make this telling of the life of Jesus a stirring, ceremonial and yet also intimate experience.

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