10 ESSENTIAL ORATORIOS for BEGINNERS

Like opera, listening or oratorios requires a serious commitment of time, but they contain some of the greatest music ever written. Here are ten essential oratorios that form the cornerstone of any collection of vocal/choral music. Enjoy them slowly, paying special attention to how the music reflects the meaning of the words.
Handel: Messiah
Handel: Saul
Handel: Theodora
Bach: St. Matthew Passion
Haydn: The Creation
Haydn: The Seasons
Mendelssohn: Elijah
Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex
Honegger: King David
Tippett: A Child of Our Time