Handel’s Messiah, a work that tells the story of the life of Christ, resonates especially at Christmas when we celebrate the birth of the Saviour.
“You will hear beautiful voices, and in many scenes you will feel comfort . You will enjoy the sound of the chorus and the voices of the four soloists. With instrumental accompaniment, some pieces are meditative, some are brilliant, and there is also a relaxed simplicity – the work has so many expressions” explains Masaaki Suzuki.
He is the director of Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ), an orchestra and chorus made up of players specialising in period instruments. Their performance of the complete Messiah at Suntory Hall is a popular event during the Christmas season and is now in its twentieth year.
“In Britain and America, Messiah is a seasonal fixture, but I am pleased that so many people in Japan attend our performance. I think it’s significant that we perform the work every year.”
For many people, it’s not Christmas without Messiah.
The work opens with the solo tenor singing “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God,” and subsequently it tells the story of Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection, including the joyous “Hallelujah Chorus”. The organ and cello support the solo voices warmly, and the trumpet sets the festive mood. Suzuki wants to bring out the sound that the composer envisaged by performing on instruments that were used the eighteenth century, and above all wants to serve the music.
“The music will give comfort and solace, and it will also lift people’s spirits. I’m sure the music will resonate with each person in different ways. It is full of joyous energy and a fitting work for these times. We are grateful that we can perform this work despite the pandemic.”