More than 250 years since its composition, Handel’s Messiah remains one of the most popular choral pieces in western music.Yet few people know the heart-rending story of how this much-loved work first came to public attention or the role it played in helping save the lives of tens of thousands of children.Professor Amanda Vickery and BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom Service present this one-hour drama documentary which re-creates the first performance of Messiah at London’s Foundling Hospital in 1750 and tells the story of how this special fundraising concert heralded a golden age of philanthropy for the country at large.
Messiah at the Foundling Hospital (link is external) airs on Saturday 19 April at 21:30 on (link is external)BBC Two (link is external)