Freakonomics Radio
Why does an 18th-century Christian oratorio lend such comfort to our own turbulent times? Stephen Dubner sets out for Dublin to tell the story of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. (Part one of “Making Messiah.”)
- SOURCES:
- Charles King, political scientist at Georgetown University.
- Katrine Nyland Sørensen, Danish broadcaster, host of Handel’s Messiah – The Advent Calendar.
- Mark Risinger, teacher at St. Bernard’s School.
- Michael and Aileen Casey, Dublin conservationists.
- Proinnsías Ó Duinn, conductor and music director of Our Lady’s Choral Society.
- Stuart Kinsella, tenor soloist and consort singer.
- RESOURCES:
- Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah, by Charles King (2024).
- “Two Men Wrote ‘Messiah.’ You Know One of Them.” by Charles King (New York Times, 2024).
- “On Fishamble Street, family lives among four centuries of relatives’ keepsakes,” by Zuzia Whelan (Dublin Inquirer, 2018).
- Hallelujah: The Story of a Musical Genius & the City That Brought His Masterpiece, by Jonathan Bardon (2016).
- George Frideric Handel: A Life with Friends, by Ellen Harris (2014).
- Handel: The Man & His Music, by Jonathan Keates (2010).
- “Handel’s Messiah,” performed by The London Symphony Orchestra (2007).
- Handel’s Messiah The Advent Calendar, podcast series.
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510. What Problems Does Crypto Solve, Anyway?
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509. Are N.F.T.s All Scams?
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508. Does the Crypto Crash Mean the Blockchain Is Over?
No. But now is a good time to sort out the potential from the hype. Whether you’re bullish, bearish, or just confused, we’re here to explain what the blockchain can do for you. (Part 1…
507. 103 Pieces of Advice That May or May Not Work
Kevin Kelly calls himself “the most optimistic person in the world.” And he has a lot to say about parenting, travel, A.I., being luckier — and why we should spend way more time on YouTube.
506. What Is Sportswashing (and Does It Work)?
In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf league that’s challenging the P.G.A. Tour. Can a sporting event really repair a country’s reputation…
505. Did Domestic Violence Really Spike During the Pandemic?
When the world went into lockdown, experts predicted a rise in intimate-partner assaults. What actually happened was more complicated.
504. Introducing “Off Leash”
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503. What Is the Future of College — and Does It Have Room for Men?
Educators and economists tell us all the reasons college enrollment has been dropping, especially for men, and how to stop the bleeding. (Part 4 of “Freakonomics Radio Goes Back to School.”)
Abortion and Crime, Revisited (Ep. 384 Update)
As the Supreme Court considers overturning Roe v. Wade, we look back at Steve Levitt’s controversial research on an unintended consequence of the 1973 ruling.
502. “I Don’t Think the Country Is Turning Away From College.”
Enrollment is down for the first time in memory, and critics complain college is too expensive, too elitist, and too politicized. The economist Chris Paxson — who happens to be the president of Brown University…
