IT'S been over 200 years since Handel's 'Messiah' was first performed in the old music hall in Dublin's Fishamble Street.But when the first-ever production of the famous oratorio was staged in the Vatican on Thursday night, the wait was worth it.
And the performance, with a strong Irish connection, brought a new twist to the traditional "audience with the Pope".
This time, it was Pope Benedict who was in the audience, and raising the roof for the Pontiff was the Dublin Archdiocese official choir, Our Lady's Choral Society and the RTE Concert Orchestra under conductor Proinnsias O Duinn.
The choir and orchestra were asked by the Pope to perform 'Messiah' as part of the celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vatican City state.
'Messiah' has been the choir's signature work since it was formed in 1945, but this week's performance before the Pope was a special one, according to the society's direct, Fr Paul Ward.
"We were told he loved it," said Fr Paul from Rome yesterday.
Following the performance, the choral society presented Pope Benedict with a bound copy of the score of 'Messiah' so that he could play it on his piano, he said.
More than 400 people, including 160 from the choral society as well as the concert orchestra, travelled to Rome for the performance in the 6,000-seat Paul V1 audience hall.
The performance was recorded by RTE television and Lyric radio and will be broadcast during Easter.
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