The Crux and Climax of Handel's Oratorios: The Chorus at the End of Part II

This session will consider the dramatic positioning of choruses Handel wrote to conclude Part II of his oratorios, which are powerfully constructed in one movement. Of course, the most well-known of such pieces is the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah, but Handel himself once said that he thought "He saw the lovely youth" from Theodora much superior. By exploring these and other examples, studying the importance of Handel’s Part II concluding chorus will assist conductors in shaping well-structured performances of these dramatic oratorios.