 Visitors to Dublin #1:
George Frederic Handel
Handel's reputation as a contributor to charitable causes meant that in 1742, while living in London, the great composer received an invitation to come to Dublin to help a charity here. He proposed to attend a number of concerts of his music and offered a new work, recently composed, for premiére.
Neale's Musick-Hall in Fishamble Street, recently opened, was chosen as the venue and there, on 13 April 1742, "The Messiah" was first performed to a packed house by a choir drawn in the main from Dublin's two cathedrals. To increase the capacity, "as it will greatly increase the charity", ladies were asked to come without hoops in their skirts and gentlemen without swords. According to the review in The Dublin Journal "The performance was superior to anything of the kind in this Kingdom before. . .".
Handel stayed in Dublin until August of that year and, though he never returned, later spoke fondly of his visit and what he described as "that generous and polite Nation".
Today a free open air concert of his music is performed each April 13 near the spot where the Musick-Hall stood. The building itself is marked by a commemorative plaque and part of it is occupied by the George Frederic Handel Hotel (recently closed).
Visitors to Dublin: Erwin Schrödinger
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