Nantwich Choral Society

Judas Maccabeus was a Jewish guerrilla leader who, in 167BC, defended his country from invasion by king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, preventing the imposition of Hellenism upon Judea, and preserving the Jewish religion.

Handel used this story as the basis of his oratorio, written in 1746, five years after Messiah. Handel considered this story a worthy tribute to the exploits of William, Duke of Cumberland who, on 16th April 1746, had defeated the Scots lead by Charles Edward Stuart (the Pretender) at the battle of Culloden.

The first performance was given at the Covent Garden Theatre in London in 1747.