Written in the 18th century, with words taken from the King James Bible, it is claimed that Handel's Messiah is 'the greatest piece of participatory art ever created'.

Even today, it is performed and played in churches, cathedrals, theatres and music halls, each and every Christmas.

In this programme, we ask the question: what is the enduring allure of Handel’s Messiah?

Is it just a musical masterpiece, or is there something more going on?

To help us ask this question, Jonathan Thomas is joined by the Gloucester Choral Society, pastoral theological Stephen Roberts, author Charles King, and authors of a new advent devotional on the Messiah, Dave & Sally Gobbett.