The broke composer who wrote history's greatest comeback—and 282 Hallelujahs to prove it.
In this recording, from the Christmas concerts held on historic Temple Square in Salt Lake City, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present the story of George Frideric Handel’s life through song. On the verge of being broke, Handel struggled to write his celebrated oratorio, Messiah. The story behind Messiah celebrates freed debtors, charitable giving, rescued children, and the Messiah's mission to save God’s children from spiritual death. With its Christ-centered focus, Hallelujah! invites listeners to feel the true meaning of Christmas. The music includes favorites such as “Do You Hear What I Hear?” performed by Osnes, “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” and many more, including a breathtaking rendition of “For unto Us a Child Is Born” from Handel’s Messiah, performed by the Metropolitan Opera soloists. The Christmas story, as told in the book of Luke in the New Testament, is poetically narrated by Jarvis.
Acting
Martin Jarvis narrates with Shakespearean gravitas that elevates scripture to poetry.
Score
The full Messiah excerpt will rearrange your soul's furniture.
Production
Temple Square's acoustics make 360 voices sound like heaven's actual address.
Director
Lee Wessman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Handel's Messiah premiered in Dublin, not London, as a charity benefit for debtors' relief—fact so wild it sounds fake.
The Tabernacle Choir's 1929 radio broadcast made them America's unofficial Christmas soundtrack; this 2016 concert continues that century-long tradition.
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