ALWAYS as much a Christmas tradition as mince pies and holly wreaths, Handel’s Messiah is the musical essential of the festive season and local classical music fans will be able to hear it in all its glory in the run up to Christmas.

The critically-acclaimed singers and musicians of Armonico Consort, led by artistic director Christopher Monks, will be giving a performance of this much-loved work on Saturday, December 17, at Malvern’s Forum Theatre (7.15pm).

The orchestra will perform on instruments of the period giving a special insight into how the work would have been heard in Handel’s day.

Although now associated with Christmas, Handel’s Messiah was actually written as a work for Easter and was first performed in Dublin in April 1742.

It took Handel just over three weeks to write the estimated quarter of a million notes!

In order to meet the demand for tickets to the premiere, ladies were asked to attend “without Hoops” and “gentlemen are desired to attend without their swords”.

This is Handel’s best-known oratorio, and with good reason: it contains some of his greatest tunes, rousing choruses and attractive arias including ‘For Unto Us a Child is Born’ and ‘Ev’ry Valley Shall be Exalted’ as well as the famous ‘Hallelujah!’ chorus.

Christopher Monks says: “Handel’s Messiah is so unusual: it is rammed full of incredible melodies which have travelled time so powerfully.  I don’t think the same could be said, with the same concentration, for any other oratorio.

“We have some fabulous soloists this year, which should make the whole evening especially exciting.”