Dublin, 18 November 1741. Handel, one of the greatest composers in history, arrives in Dublin, the second city of the Empire, to perform his masterpiece.

In Hallelujah Jonathan Bardon, one of Ireland s most reputable historians, explores the circumstances surrounding the first performance of Handel s sacred oratorio in Dublin and, in so doing, provides a panoramic view of a city in flux at once struggling to contain the effects of famine and become a vibrant centre of European culture and commerce. This is the story of how one performance changed the course of musical history and wove itself into the fabric of Ireland s capital.

Bardon strikes a balance between a classical music enthusiast s appreciation for the Messiah and a historian s ability to contextualise one of the greatest pieces of music ever in the city in which it was first performed. With broad appeal to both the Irish and international markets, Bardon brings the story of a musical genius and his Christmas masterpiece to life in his distinctive and accessible style.