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Handel did end up an English citizen, but his journey to London took him via Rome and Venice where much of the groundwork for his ‘English’ style was laid. He was also a canny investor putting money into South Sea stock and selling out shortly before the South Sea bubble burst - in an uncanny foretaste of our current financial difficulties.

The ‘Messiah’ was first performed in Dublin on a commission from the 3rd Duke of Devonshire for the benefit of local hospitals. There were many performances in Handel’s lifetime, most of them with different instrumental resources, which has left musicologists with the unenviable task of attempting to discover the ‘authentic’ version. The truth is that there is no authentic version. Handel was the ultimate practical musician and tailored each performance to the available forces.


The most celebrated number from this most famous of compositions is ‘The trumpet shall sound’ with its extraordinary and technically demanding trumpet solo. The trumpet on this recording is played by the LSO’s legendary principle trumpet, Maurice Murphy, who died a few weeks ago. 

Maurice began his career with the Black Dyke Mills band before becoming principal trumpet of the BBC Northern Symphony. In the sixties and early seventies he was the soloist you had to have if you were performing ‘Messiah’ in the North of England. Performances were scheduled around Maurice’s availabilities and it was not unusual for him to play three performances in a single evening with the help of local taxis. This is Maurice’s last big solo recording, made when he was in his seventies. It is an extraordinary achievement.

Handel would have loved it.