A Stand-Up Performance?

Audience members standing during the "Hallelujah" chorus at Carnegie Hall

Don’t be surprised if you see a few of your fellow audience members standing up during the ISO’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio this weekend.

No, they are not spontaneously stretching or preparing to make a quick exit, but rather participating in a longstanding tradition of rising during the “Hallelujah” chorus.

The origins of this custom – often considered one of the most bizarre concert rituals – are unclear. The most popular theory is that King George II was so moved by the “Hallelujah” chorus at its London premiere in 1743 that he rose to his feet in excitement. As the custom in England was that subjects were to stand if the King was on his feet, rumor has it that the attendees of the premiere followed King George’s lead. Yet, there is no official record of the King even being at this concert, let along standing, so this story has become a bit of an urban legend.

Another hypothesis is that early on, many audience members identified the piece as a deeply spiritual, hymn-like work, and thus stood as if in church. As Matthew Guerrieri wrote in a Boston Globe article about Handel’s work, “Better to be piously safe than sorry.”

A number of other theories abound, but in any case, the tradition has persisted around the world. Although I’m not sure the phenomenon reflects, as music critic Michael Steinberg wrote, “a silent showdown between the secularists who refuse to stand…and the traditionalists who rebuke them with looks of poison,” I always find it interesting to see how many people are committed to propagating this tradition. But don’t worry – there will probably be no rebuking “looks of poison” at the ISO.

Whether you are standing or not, we hope you are indeed moved by the majestic “Messiah!”