This CD recording of Handel’s masterpiece captures the performance of the Messiah in the years since 2011. Recorded live from our three performances in late November 2016, it’s the expression of a close collaboration between choir and baroque orchestra. For many years St Jacobs Kammarkör, Rebaroque and their leader Maria Lindal have enjoyed the performances of many great works of the sacred repertoire. When the baton changed hands and it was time to continue the Messiah tradition with a new team it was only natural that Rebaroque and St Jacobs Kammarkör once again combined forces for the Messiah performances.

We started with an idea to give the Cathedral’s colourful chancel organ and cathedral organist Mattias Wager a central role in our performances. One might envision Handel himself leading the choir and orchestra from the organ bench. To match the organ’s pitch, we chose to tune the instruments of our eminent baroque ensemble to concert pitch 440.

One central ingredient in our continuo group is Karl Nyhlin’s baroque lute. Together with the other marvelous players in the band, we have tried to find personal and creative solutions to the performance of the many varied movements of this great work.

The solo violin of Maria Lindal used in several of the arias helps create an intimate and spontaneous communication between instrument and voice. The use of Mats Klingfors’ bassoon as both continuo and melody instrument gives several movements a distinctive character.

This performance reflects a cherished collaboration between a group of instrumentalists, four leading Swedish soloists and a cathedral chamber choir. There was an unavoidable sense of responsibility when the Cathedral’s Messiah performances fell on our lot, and also of great joy and gratitude in being afforded the opportunity to carry an important tradition forward. Our heart-felt gratitude extends also to Bishop Åke Bonnier without whose generous support this CD would not have been made.