The Messiah by Swedish composer Sven-David Sandström was jointly commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival and the International Bach Academy Stuttgart for the Handel Year 2009. In accordance with the wishes of the commissioners, the work is based on the English libretto by Charles Jennens, which Handel set to music in his famous oratorio over 260 years ago. Great expressivity and orchestral colour characterize this Messiah of the 21st century, in which modernity and beautiful sound are no contradiction for Sandström - in line with his artistic credo: "My music should be graspable at first hearing and touch people!"
