Handel and Scandal, Stories and (Holiday) Music

Dear Colleagues,

Handel’s Messiah, a staple in the U.S. and across the Anglo-Saxon world at this time of year, was premiered in Dublin. That was April 13, 1742, to be exact and concert-goers attended the first performance in large part because of the contralto.

The singer in question was Susannah Maria Cibber, a mesmerizing vocalist and renowned actress — highest paid on the London stage at the time — who found herself at the center of a scandal. While British tabloids didn’t start up until the early 20th century, appetite for drama and sensation on the Isles goes way back. For the premiere of Messiah the place was packed. Women took off the hoops from underneath their dresses to make space for attendees to squeeze in.

Susannah Cibber was married to Theophilus Cibber, fellow actor — and scoundrel. Susannah’s husband was abusive. He also spent well beyond the couple’s means. Theophilus tried to sell his wife’s jewelry to satisfy creditors. When this failed, he took in a wealthy tenant named William Sloper to generate revenue. The play may have had a chance, except that Susannah fell for the couple’s lodger. She took off with Sloper.

Handel’s Messiah, the Music

Handel’s work, a score of 260 pages, was composed in 24 days. Handel’s librettist Charles Jennens fought with the composer over the haste and what he insisted was the composer’s lack of care with the music. Messiah has had shelf life, though. At Carnegie Hall in New York Messiah has been performed every year since 1891, with 1960 as the one exception when demolition of the hall was expected.

The German-born composer George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) became famous in Britain for Italian opera, but in response to changing English taste he turned his attention to oratorios. Think of an oratorio as modified opera without the acting. There are scenes, recitations, choruses — drama and storytelling.

Originally imagined for Easter, Messiah was Handel’s sixth work in this genre. Part 1 starts with the prophesies of Isaiah.  Part II begins with the Passion of Christ and concludes with the Hallelujah Chorus. Part III concentrates on the resurrection of the dead and Christ’s glorification in heaven.

Here’s a clear and crisp full performance of Messiah with Voces8 and the Academy of Ancient Music. It’s a chamber ensemble and likely the way Handel heard his music at the time. This performance has pathos. Here’s a short, beautiful chorus under the baton of baroque expert John Eliot Gardner.

And here’s something which, when sung by Susannah Maria Cibber at the Dublin premiere, moved the audience to tears. The singer in this performance is Glasgow-born mezzo soprano Beth Taylor (think of mezzo soprano as between contralto and soprano).

Actors and Assets

You all have a tremendous amount on your plate. Across the company, I’m seeing effort, engagement, and determination every single day. I’m grateful — and inspired. I don’t have to tell you of the responsibility you have in times of war and contagious instability.

MBN storytelling can be dramatic, riveting, and revealing. Our colleague Ahmed Yaseen Al-Mohammedawi has produced a fine piece of work. Habiba Tarrab hosted and steered the conversation masterfully. Wafaa Qassem secured this important podcast interview.

The guest was Syrian actor Bashar Ismael on our show Haki w Hkyayat (HWH). Tip of hat to the entire HWH podcast team. This episode trended on YouTube for three consecutive days generating millions of views across all social media platforms with 1.8K comments (and 5.5K new subscribers).

Bashar, who belongs to the Alawite minority — Assad’s community interestingly — shared his experiences of how minorities in Syria suffered under one of the world’s most notorious dictatorships. You can watch the full episode by clicking on this link.

It’s because of you that talent keeps flowing our way. Our new security director Scott Riddick — a former secret service agent with deep international experience — joins us in January. As part of Billy Sabatini’s team, a new HR director comes on board in February. I’ll be able to announce the name in the New Year. You’ll be pleased. Ditto Grant Turner. We’ve just hired the best media CFO in the business. Grant’s with us in January.

Fabulous visitors keep coming our way. We’re scheduling dates for Charles (Chuck) Lane, Andy Walworth, and Tarek Masoud. Tarek teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School where his research focuses on governance and political development in Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority countries. He’s the author of Counting Islam: Religion, Class, and Elections in Egypt.

Andy Walworth is chief content officer for RealClear Media. He’s also president/CEO of Grace Creek Media (Andy and I have produced documentaries together).

Chuck Lane has just left the Washington’s Post as columnist and editorial board member for Barri Weiss’s Free Press. Chuck has a lot to say about a rapidly and drastically changing media landscape.

Chuck knows scandal, too. He was editor of The New Republic when talented young writer Stephen Glass jeopardized the magazine’s future with a series of articles that relied on fabricated sources. There’s a Hollywood movie about the story titled Shattered Glass. Here’s the trailer. Chuck comes out very well. Stephen Glass gets fired, and goes on to write fiction and work for a Beverly Hills law firm.

Short Playlist for the Holidays

No matter how you celebrate, here’s music for this time of year.

“Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen” dates back to 1599. It’s sung here in an unusual setting by the Olga Vocal Ensemble from the Netherlands.

Here’s a beautiful French classic.

“I Saw Thee Ships” is an English Carol from the 17th century. Here’s Sting’s rendition. If you prefer a more traditional version, here’s the sparkle of Kings College Cambridge (these kids know how to roll “R’s”). And here, a 1966 classic recording by Nat King Cole.

“In Dulce Jubilo” dates back to the 14th century. Here, more perfect tones from the choir of Kings College Cambridge.

Here’s “Riu, Riu, Chiu,” my Spanish favorite. I love this. There’s poetry, energy, addictive rhythm, and African influence in a genre of popular story telling from the 16th century. Some music travels. The Monkees discovered “Riu” in LA in 1967. Here you go.

I always come back to American guitarist John Fahey. Here’s a lovely medley. John was a creative genius. Sadly, bourbon and diabetes would finally get the better of him.

******

Susannah Cibber escaped. Together with William Sloper she went on to have a son and a daughter. Ex-husband Theophilus Cibber died in a shipwreck off the coast of Ireland.

Susannah had seen trouble in Cibber from the get-go. She insisted on a prenup — an unusual arrangement at that time — and was able to protect her healthy earnings as a successful singer and actress.

My best, Jeff