Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did performances of Messiah become much larger after Handel’s death?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel, oil on canvas by Thomas Hudson, c. 1736; in the Foundling Museum, London.
During his lifetime, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah was performed by a typical Baroque orchestra consisting of only a few dozen players and a small, skilled chorus.
The shift toward immensely scaled performances occurred only after the composer's death. This trend gained momentum with large-scale commemorative events, such as the 1784 festival held at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of Handel’s birth. That specific performance featured hundreds of musicians, including over 200 vocalists and a massive instrumental ensemble. By the 19th century, this tradition of grand-scale interpretation continued to evolve, with some performances involving thousands of participants on stage.1