Saturday, December 17th, 7:30 p.m. @ Morrison Center
Sunday, December 18, 2:00 p.m. @ Morrison Center
TICKETS ARE NOW OFF SALE ONLINE AND OVER THE PHONE FOR HANDEL'S MESSIAH
We still have plenty of great seats available, you can purchase these starting one hour before doors at the box office at the Morrison Center.
Concert Media Sponsor - 
Robert Franz, music director
Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale
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The Boise Philharmonic and the Idaho Statesman are teaming up to help the Idaho Foodbank for this concert. Bring a non-perishable food item and you will receive a 20% off coupon for Messiah or for a future performance.
To donate directly to the Idaho Foodbank, click here.
*Discounts can be used the day of the Messiah performance, or any concert during the 2011-2012 season. Limit 2 vouchers per household. Offer is not valid with any other offer, coupon discount or previous purchase and is based on availability.
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Behind the Music
Georg Friedrich Handel composed Messiah in only 24 days during August and September of 1741. He did not leave his house, nor allow visitors during that time, and was said to have eaten little more than bread- even that munch on while he worked. “He did without sleep, too. When his servants tried to get him to rest or eat he would answer then with ill-tempered and sometimes even incoherent retorts- his eyes blazing with a wild fury- so that they sometimes thought he was loosing his mind. While not a religious man in the same sense as Bach, Handel became God-intoxicated while writing Messiah. When he completed the ‘Halleluja Chorus’ he exclaimed to his servant, ‘I did think I did see all of Heaven before me, and the great God himself.”1
“A public rehearsal of Messiah was held on April 8 [in Dublin] before a large audience, and the next day a newspaper reported that ‘it was allowed by the greatest Judges to the finest Composition of Music that ever was heard.’ The paper suggested that the ladies not wear hoopskirts to the concert, and that gentlemen no carry their swords, in order to make room for a larger audience.” 2
1 Milton Cross’ Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and their Music by Milton Cross and David Ewen, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1962
2 MCA Classic Recordings Handel + Messiah, Leonard Burkat Notes, 1986