Travel tips for opera lovers – Dublin and Handel

Handel in Dublin

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Handel in Dublin

 

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

 

 

 

 

Händel in Dublin

When Handel wrote Messiah in 1741, he was in failing health and had had some financial adventures. Not sure if the oratorio would please his dear Londoners, he decided to perform it in Dublin during the Easter weeks.

He arrived in November and the famous musician was welcomed in Dublin with timpani and trumpets. Handel assumed that as a sacred work, the oratorio would not be subject to the general theatrical ban during the Easter holidays. He wanted to perform Messiah in the Musick Halls of Fishamble Street, but needed the singers of the cathedrals. However, he met resistance from Jonathan Swift (the author of “Gulliver’s Travels” and Dean of St. Patrick’s), who in his ecclesiastical position refused Handel’s wish.

Only when Handel agreed to give the first performance of Messiah as a charity event did Swift accept. Thus began the career of this great work as a later “Christmas Carol.” Thus began the career of this great work as a “Christmas Carol.”The success of the first “Messiah” was so great that the ladies were asked to appear without hoops and the gentlemen without sabers, so that 700 people could be seated in the following performances.

 

 

 

Destination Musick Hall in Fishamble Street

Musick Hall no longer exists, only the beautiful entrance gate still stands next to the historic buildings. Through this gate the visitors streamed onto the site, a commemorative plaque was stolen. The name Fishamble comes from the “Ambles”, as the cattle slaughtering markets were called. The Messiah is nowadays performed in the open air in front of the gate during Easter week.

The entrance gate of Fishamble Street:

 

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