Sir, - Contemporary accounts of the first performance of Messiah in Dublin do not give meteorological data for April 13th, 1742. However, there are frequently quoted references to the exhortation to ladies to attend without hoops in their skirts. The ladies of Our Lady's Choral Society, captured in Pat Langan's superb photograph (The Irish Times, April 14th), were creative in the means they used to stay warm beneath their uniforms while singing outdoors in Fishamble Street in April 1999 - suggesting "How beautiful are the feet" as another suitable title for the photograph.
Those not present may think the photograph shows the proceedings ending in disarray, in the style of "All we like sheep have gone astray". Quite the opposite. Choristers were in fact scrambling to pick up the music blown from the stand of Maestro Proinsias O Duinn who, in the best tradition of professional performance, ensured that the show did indeed go on. In fact the choir completed their programme to great applause from a large audience including the Deputy Lord Mayor, Ita Greene, who did not flinch until the last Amen came to a glorious end.
We will be back again next year for a special Jubilee 2000 performance organised as ever by Temple Bar Properties. See you there whatever the weather. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, Director, Our Lady's Choral Society, Dublin 1.