Catch up TV

Episode 03 April 2021

Handel’s much-loved masterpiece comes from the stunning London Coliseum in a version created by English National Opera specially for audiences at home.\n\nPetroc Trelawny and saxophonist-composer YolanDa Brown present this imaginatively staged, socially distanced production of Messiah, featuring the famous Hallelujah chorus, with the ENO Chorus and Orchestra and a stellar line-up of some of opera’s most exciting talent. Celebrated soloists including countertenor Iestyn Davies and mezzo-soprano Christine Rice are joined by rising stars Nadine Benjamin, Anthony Gregory, Nardus Williams, John Findon, William Thomas and Benson Wilson, while the conductor is renowned Handel expert Laurence Cummings.\n \nAlthough now more commonly performed at Christmas, Handel wrote Messiah as an Easter work, and its themes of hope and rebirth after dark times resonate strongly as we emerge from lockdown.

Source: BBC 2