Each year, during the festivities, I like to take in a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year was no exception, made even more special under candlelight in the magnificent venue of Llandaff Cathedral.
The Messiah was composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, whom Ludwig van Beethoven declared as 'the greatest composer that ever lived.' I adore Handel's epic oratorio, but my love for this annual event is entirely theological. Each year I am presented with a taste of Heaven, an image of the new humanity whom God gave His Son to redeem.
Engaged body and soul
On stage, we have a community of men and women from all different backgrounds who are utterly equal in value, united in purpose and devoted to collectively communicating the beauty of the piece. They invite the audience to share in their passion, which requires a lifetime of dedication and service to perform.
Three lies of British culture
I am not a social scientist, statistician, or expert in trend analysis. I have no qualifications in psychology or anthropology. …