Handel and Haydn Society

MISSION The mission of the Handel and Haydn Society is to perform Baroque and Classical music for chorus and period-instrument orchestra at the highest level of artistic achievement. DESCRIPTION Founded as a choral society in 1815 by a group of Boston merchants, Handel and Haydn is among the oldest continuously performing arts organizations in the country. From its earliest years, the Society established a tradition of innovation, performing the American premieres of Handel's Messiah in 1818, Haydn's Creation in 1819, Verdi's Requiem in 1878, and Bach's B Minor Mass in 1887. The Society began performing Handel's Messiah annually in 1854. IMPACT Recent achievements include an extensive collaboration with the acclaimed director Chen Shi-Zheng for a series of fully staged performances incorporating Asian dance, dramatic lighting techniques, and innovative special effects. The first production was Monterverdi's Vespers in September 2003, followed by Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas in October 2005. In 2006, the Society joined with the English National Opera for a co-production of Monteverdi's Orfeo with Chen Shi-Zheng. The production opened to rave reviews in London in April 2006 and will make its American debut in September, 2006.