Pittsburgh Symphony, Mendelssohn Choir bring Handel’s 'Messiah' to Saint Vincent in Unity

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Manfred Honeck, performed George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” on Tuesday in the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.

First performed on April 13, 1742, in Dublin, Ireland, “Messiah” didn’t have its premier in London until nearly a year later. It has since become regarded as one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.

Handel, whose reputation had been established predominantly by his compositions of Italian opera, composed “Messiah” in 1741.