The German Embassy Dublin presents the world première of Messiah Revisited at Goethe-Institut Irland in Dublin

Messiah by German composer Georg Friedrich Händel, one of the world’s best-known pieces of music, was premièred on Fishamble Street in Dublin on 13th April 1742. To celebrate this, the German Embassy Dublin invited internationally renowned composers Diana Čemerytė, Anselm McDonnell, Karola Obermüller, Yue Song and Matthew Whiteside to respond to selected arias and recitative from Messiah with new compositions for tenor, viola and/or accordion, alongside new arrangements of Händel's works by Anselm McDonnell.

Led by the project’s Artistic Director Linda O’Shea Farren, the world première of these new works is performed by Adele Johnson (viola), Rory Lynch (tenor) and Eva Zöllner (accordion) at the Goethe-Institut Irland at 12 noon on Saturday, 13th April 2024, on the anniversary of the Messiah's first ever performance.

Welcome by H.E. Cord Meier-Klodt, German Ambassador to Ireland

Interview by Linda O’Shea Farren with Matthew Whiteside and Karola Obermüller

1. Recit. Comfort Ye by Georg Friedrich Händel*

2. Speak Ye (Un)Comfortably for viola and accordion (Matthew Whiteside)

3. Air. Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted by Georg Friedrich Händel*

4. ev’ry for tenor, viola and accordion (Karola Obermüller)

Interview by Linda O’Shea Farren with Anselm McDonnell

5. Recit. He That Dwelleth In Heaven & Air. Thou Shalt Break Them by Georg Friedrich Händel*

6. He Hath Led Me for tenor, viola and accordion (Anselm McDonnell)

7. Recit. Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart & Air. Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow by Georg Friedrich Händel*

Interview by Linda O’Shea Farren with Yue Song and Diana Čemerytė

8. Thy Holy One for tenor and viola (Yue Song)

9. Recit. He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living & Air. But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell by Georg Friedrich Händel*

10. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion for viola and accordion (Diana Čemerytė)

11. Air. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion by Georg Friedrich Händel*

*arr. for tenor, viola and accordion by Anselm McDonnell

Closing remarks by H.E. Cord Meier-Klodt