On this day in 1742, Handel’s Messiah premiered in Dublin to an audience of 700. The premiere was the culmination of a season of concerts performed during the winter of 1741–1742. The idea originally came about by an invitation from the Duke of Devonshire, who was then serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Both St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral had permitted … [Read more...] about April 13, 1742