NTSO 2025/26 SEASON
Handel Messiah & Xmas Celebration

2025/12/21(Sun.)14:30 Taichung Chung Shan Hall

Conductor: Su-Han YANG
Soprano: Grace LIN
Alto: Jo-Pei WENG
Tenor: Yi-Wei LIN
Bass: Ming-Mou HSIEH
Chorus Masters: Yu-Chung John KU, Wei-Chun Regina CHANG
Taipei Philharmonic Chorus

Program

G. F. Handel：“MESSIAH” part one
L. Anderson: Sleigh Ride
L. Mason, arr. M. Wilberg: Joy to the World
A. Adam, arr. W. Ryden: O Holy Night
F. Bernard: Winter Wonderland
F. Gruber, arr. J. Rutter: Silent Night
Traditional Carols, arr. R. Shaw: “Many Moods of Christmas” suite 3
  What Child is This? 
  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
  Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
  Angels We have Heard on High

Since its premiere in 1742, Handel’s oratorio “MESSIAH” has inspired countless people. At that time, the 57-year-old composer was at a low point in his career. Yet when Handel read the libretto of “MESSIAH”, given to him by his friend Charles Jennens, he was deeply moved and felt compelled to transform the text, which was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter, into a musical masterpiece. The entire two-and-a-half-hour composition was completed in less than a month.
 
    The oratorio is structured in three parts, depicting the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. Rather than following the conventions of religious music of his day, Handel incorporated dramatic techniques drawn from opera, making the piece more appealing. Examples include letting the soprano use extremely fancy vocal techniques to express the excitement of “rejoice” as Jesus will soon arrive. Handel also enriches the traditional recitative by adding instrumental accompaniment, lending vividness and color to the narrative. When the bass is singing “For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth,” the underlying rolling musical figure in the string music evokes a sense of foreboding that is only relieved when the words “the Lord shall arise” bring a change in mood and rhythm. Above all, Handel’s expert choir composition brings out the text in the oratorio. Besides the famous Hallelujah chorus at the end of Part II, the composer's genius skills are also demonstrated in Part I No. 12 "For unto us a Child is born" - the people's excitement about the birth of Christ is illustrated with simple musical phrases and voice part imitations.
 
    This concert also features beloved Christmas selections, including “Sleigh Ride” and “Silent Night”, and the bright and romantic “Many Moods of Christmas” suite 3, arranged by US choir master Robert Shaw, is the perfect piece for the holidays!
 

About 120 min.

Price NT 300、500、800、1000

OPENTIX

Directed：Ministry of Culture
Organizer & Performer：National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra
Co-Host: Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government
Promotional Collaborators：Taiwan Stock Exchange

*The organizer reserves the right to alter the program.

Update 2025/07/30

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