He wrote it in three short weeks, never leaving home and hardly eating. Listen as Dr. Ruth Smith recounts the amazing story of why Christian composer George Frederick Handel wrote the musical masterpiece called “Messiah.”
Most of us have heard the Hallelujah Chorus, but have you ever heard about the powerful spiritual moment Handel experienced when he wrote his most famous song?
“Comfort ye my people.” That’s what the Lord says to the prophet in Isaiah 40. But how does this little verse tell us about the promised Messiah and what he came to do?
One of the greatest oratorios ever written didn’t premier in a concert hall or a cathedral. Instead, Handel’s Messiah was first played at a hospital. Find why when you listen to today’s program.
“Thus saith the Lord.” Nothing commands our attention quite like these words. When the Lord speaks, power comes forth—a power that can both comfort and confront us. Here’s why that’s good news.
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Handel's Messiah
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Handel's Messiah: Lyrics and Verse References
Back in 2015, I visited Handel’s home in London to see the rooms where he composed. While I was there I spoke with Dr. Ruth Smith, a Cambridge scholar on Handel. She explained that the lyrics (the libretto) were not...
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A Visit to Handel's House
For many, Handel's Messiah is what people listen to most at Christmastime, but did you know it was originally written for Easter? The scope of this musical masterpiece spans the entirety of Scripture with the central point resting on the birth our...
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Alister McGrath on C.S. Lewis' Transition from Atheism to Christianity
Originally recorded in 2013, 50 years after the death of C.S. Lewis, Charles Morris had a conversation with Dr. Alister McGrath to shed new light on the most famous atheist-turned-Christian of the 20th century. Dr. McGrath has written one of...
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The Amazing Story Behind Handel's Messiah
While you’re out shopping this Christmas season, listen closely: there’s a good chance that the background music you’ll hear is Handel’s Messiah. It’s the classical music we most associate with Christmas—especially the Hallelujah chorus, and it’s a major trigger for stirring...
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