Handel’s Messiah: The Passion and Resurrection with Mia Chung and Richard Westerfield

In a special Good Friday online event, we explore the next part of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. As with our previous exploration at Christmastime, our guides are concert pianist Mia Chung, a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum, and maestro Richard Westerfield. 

Through Lent, we are called to ponder Jesus’ sacrifice and look ahead to his ultimate triumph over death. The next part of Handel’s Messiah carries on the story of Christ, moving to and through the Passion and the Resurrection. With a mix of music and conversation, Mia and Richard continue the conversation on Handel’s Messiah.

Thanks to co-host Octet Collaborative for their support of this event.

See our last two conversations with Mia and Richard on the first part of the Messiah in December 2025, and on Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in April 2025.

Mia Chung founded and leads the Octet Collaborative, a Christian study center which promotes human flourishing at MIT. She teaches at Harvard and has previously been on the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. Her recordings have won awards, and she has performed in concert halls worldwide. 

Richard Westerfield has served as Associate Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and led many other orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic. 

Excerpts and Performers Mentioned:

Collegium 1704, Prague

Vaclav Luks, conductor

Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God

Bach Collegium San Diego

Ruben Valenzuela, conductor

Aria: He was despised

Choir of Trinity Wall Street

Julian Wachner, conductor

Jonathan Woody, baritone

Aria: He was despised

Taffelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir

Ivars Taurins, conductor

Chorus: Surely he hath borne our griefs

Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin RIAS Kammerchor

Robin Ticciati, chief conductor

Philharmonie Berlin (2018)

Chorus: All we like sheep

Accomp: All they that see him

English Concert & Choir

John Nelson, conducting

Coventry Cathedral (2021)

Chorus: All we like sheep

Royal Choral Society

Richard Cooke, conducting

Chorus: He trusted in God

Morgens Dahl Chamber Choir

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Morgens Dahl, conducting

Aria: Behold and see if there be any sorrow

Choir and Orchestra of Trinity Church Wall Street

Jane Glover, conductor

Aria: But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell

Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir

Brett Weymark, conducting

Sydney Opera House (2022)

Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates

Les Arts Florissants

William Christie, conductor

Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates

Aria: How beautiful are the feet of them

Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Kent Nagano, Music Director

Aria: How beautiful are the feet of them

Tennebrae Choir and Orchestra

Nigel Short, conductor

Chorus: Surely he hath borne our griefs

Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder

King’s College Choir

The Brandenburg Consort

Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Chorus: And with his stripes we are healed

Chorus: Let all the angels of God worship him

Aria: Thou shalt dash them

Les Arts Florissants

Paul Agnew, conducting

Philharmonie de Paris

Chorus: Hallelujah