Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2025-12-19
Books mentioned on 657. Whose “Messiah” Is It Anyway?
All sorts of people have put their mark on Messiah, and it has been a hit for nearly 300 years. How can a single piece of music thrive in so many settings?
Stephen Dubner discussed Handel in London by Jane Glover and Tainted Glory in Handel's Messiah by Michael Marissen.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Handel in London
Discussed“When we first set out to make this series about Handle's Messiah, one of the most helpful books I read was called Handle in London: The Making of a Genius by Jane Glover.”
Where to get it
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Tainted Glory in Handel's Messiah
Discussed“These are the topics explored in a book, a controversial book in Messiah circles called Tainted Glory in Handles Messiah, the unsettling history of the world's most beloved coral work. Its author is Michael Marissen.”
Where to get it
