Handel: Messiah. Christmas Music. New York Philharmonic. Leonard Bernstein, Conductor. On the Columbia Masterworks label, this record should be in the Smithsonian. I revere this work. I've attended many live performances of Handel's Messiah - and every time it, it - well, it works. It brings me close enought to the elusive "Christmas spirit." My favorite performances are the ones held annually on the 2nd Sunday in December, at the Riverside Presbyterian Church, under the direction of a lady who my piano teacher many moons ago. But let's review George Frederick Handel himself. Reading the back album cover, he was born at Halle, Germany, Feb. 23, 1685. Messiah was composed in 1741. The work was first performed in Dublin. In London, Handel led performances of it in 1743, 1744, 1745, and again in 1749. My dad told me once that Handel was the "British Bach." I think that means Handel was every bit as great and prolific a composer as Bach.
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