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SALT LAKE CITY — On Thanksgiving Day, fans of Handel’s Messiah will get a real treat.
Local filmmaker Lee Groberg, along with cinematographer Mark Goodman and screenwriter Mitch Davis, recently produced a documentary centering around a musical genius, a librettist and an actress who worked together to produce the Messiah in 1742.
The documentary, which will air on BYUtv at 7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, illustrates the conception of an oratorio that has lasted for more than two centuries and reached more people in the world than perhaps any other piece of music ever has, Groberg said.
Groberg said the film is a documentary because he went to the sources of the experts to help tell the story in addition to visually turning the clock back to the time of the events.
“This story is so inspiring, and it’s been a good one to tell,” Groberg said. “Because it’s so universally loved, especially the Hallelujah Chorus, we depict choirs from many nations singing the Hallelujah Chorus, which is representative of the universality of the popularity of this piece.”
The filmmakers visited historical locations in western Europe to illustrate Handel’s journey.
We all have challenges to overcome, and so the universal nature of redemption is something mankind can relate to and we strive really hard to depict that message in this story.
–Lee Groberg, filmmaker
From Handel’s birthplace in Halle, Germany to performance halls in Dublin, Ireland, Groberg visually turned back the clock to represent Handel’s life and circumstance.
Some of the emotional impact Messiah created during its beginnings is depicted in the documentary.
For example, the proceeds from the oratorio freed 152 debtors from a debtors prison in Dublin.
Although the prison was unavailable to film, Groberg integrated footage of another prison that fit the time period and recreated prisoners being released as a debt was paid for them that they could not pay for themselves.
“In many ways, the Messiah is about the message of its namesake,” Groberg said. “We are reliant on The Messiah for our salvation if we are believers, and the illustration of debtors prison is a metaphor for these people being freed for debts they couldn’t pay just like debts we can’t pay, so Christ frees us by his sacrifice.”
Narrated by Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Jane Seymour, Handel’s Messiah is a message of redemption, Groberg said.
“The three main characters all have had things to overcome, and the production of Messiah is in many ways a turning point for these people,” Groberg said. “We all have challenges to overcome, and so the universal nature of redemption is something mankind can relate to and we strive really hard to depict that message in this story.”
