Why Handel's Messiah Libretto Still Hits Home
If you've ever found yourself standing up for the "Hallelujah" chorus, you've experienced just a tiny fraction of the emotional weight carried by Handel's Messiah libretto. It is one of those rare pieces of writing that manages to be deeply religious, intensely dramatic, and oddly accessible all at the same time. But while George Frideric Handel usually gets all the glory for the soaring melodies, there's a whole other side to the story—the guy who actually picked the words. ...