The 'Hallelujah' Chorus, arguably the most famous choral work of the western classical tradition, is the closing number of the second part of Handel's Messiah.

Such is the strength of Handel's word setting thatthis empathic, triumphal paean retains its appeal in spite of the cultural overexposure and controversy to which it has been subjected, remaining a firm favourite with choirs.

The premiere of Messiah was in Dublinin 1742 as the high point of a full season of...