The Messiah (2/6): Sarah Connolly: "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion"

Superb mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly sings the recitative: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive ..." followed by the air: "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion" from Part I of "The Messiah" by George Frederic Handel. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us." (Isaiah 7: 14; Matthew 1: 23) "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God!" (Isaiah 40: 9) "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60: 1) This performance, which was conducted by the Abbey's Organist and Master of Choristers James O'Donnell, took place on the day of the 250th anniversary of the composer's death and in the place where he is buried. The Abbey Choir was joined by the period-instrument orchestra St. James's Baroque, and soloists Ailish Tynan, Sarah Connolly, Paul Agnew and Jonathan Lemalu.