We have a wonderful opportunity on Good Friday to not only unite in a worldwide fast, but also to unite in song with others around the world as the Tabernacle Choir streams Handel’s Messiah this Easter season.
This special Messiah performance, originally recorded in 2018, will be streamed on Good Friday, April 10 at 8pm our time, on a variety of websites and social channels to enable individuals and families to draw closer to Jesus Christ and celebrate Easter at home, especially since church services aren’t available due to current conditions.
The Tabernacle Choir website (tabchoir.org/messiah) contains rich background information sources about Handel, the writing of Messiah, talks about Messiah by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and more. These resources can be used for lessons with families prior to or after listening to the stream at home, particularly on Easter Sunday. Some of these resources are also available in Spanish.
Messiah was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1742 with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens. It recounts the story of Christ’s life in three sections, from His birth to His death and eventual Resurrection. Messiah has become one of the best known, most beloved, and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Messiah Stream Information
The Messiah internet stream will begin at 8:00 p.m. (Central time) on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 from the many options listed below:
Websites
· 24/7 Radio Stream on SaintsChannel.ChurchofJesusChrist.org (audio only)
Social, Digital, and Other Channels
· YouTube.com/TheTabernacleChoiratTempleSquare
· Facebook.com/TheTabernacleChoir
· Facebook.com/ChurchofJesusChrist
· Amazon Alexa (audio only) (click for details on using Alexa)
Messiah On-Demand Information
On Friday, April 10 after the end of the stream (approximately 11 p.m. MDT), the full Messiah oratorio will be available to watch whenever convenient at TabChoir.org/messiah and YouTube.com/TheTabernacleChoiratTempleSquare. The oratorio lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes including two short 5-minute intermissions. Also following the end of the stream Friday night, Alexa will play the Messiah oratorio upon request throughout the Easter weekend. (Just say, “Alexa, play The Tabernacle Choir.”)
BYUtv Broadcast and On-Demand Information
BYUtv, the family cable station, will broadcast the Messiah performance on Easter Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.(mountain) on TV, at byutv.org, and on the BYUtv app. The performance will be available for on-demand viewing on byutv.org
Live Messiah Tradition Anticipated to Resume in 2021
The live 2020 concert event originally scheduled in the Salt Lake Tabernacle was cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus. It is anticipated that the biennial tradition of Handel’s Messiah performances by the Choir and Orchestra will resume at Eastertime in 2021.