Handel's Messiah To Be Performed Next Sunday

From the GMChorale Chamber Singers.
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“For unto us a child is born…” These words from Isaiah are only a part of the inspired text of
Handel’s glorious Messiah, said to be the greatest oratorio ever written. On Sunday, December 18, at 5 PM, the GMChorale Chamber Singers will be presenting its majestic performance of this masterpiece at the Performing Arts Center at MHS, 200 La Rosa Lane.

Crowning the season, the GMChorale Chamber Singers join forces with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for the holiday season’s most famous and celebrated choral work. GMChorale’s Artistic Director, Joseph D’Eugenio, will conduct this performance.

Composed in 1741, Messiah has had countless performances all over the globe and is arguably Handel’s most highly regarded work. Accompanied by 20 gifted instrumentalists from the NHSO, the voices of the GMChorale Chamber Singers and four professional soloists, Soprano Jessica Pray, Mezzo-Soprano Allegra De Vita, Tenor Lucas van Lierop, and Baritone Bryan Murray, will astound listeners with their musical precision and magnificent sound.

With texts taken directly from both the Old and the New Testaments and provided by Handel’s friend, Charles Jennens, Messiah is written in three parts; the first part, which will be sung in its entirety, contains the Biblical prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.

This performance will also include highlights from the second portion of the oratorio (Christ’s passion, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension), ending with the all-time favorite “Hallelujah” chorus, and from the third part (Christ’s resurrection and redemption), which is brought to conclusion with the monumental Messiah finale “Worthy is the Lamb,” with its exultant “Amen” providing what is perhaps the greatest ending to any oratorio.

Standing during the “Hallelujah” chorus began when King George II, present at the first London performance of the Messiah in 1743, was so awed by the “Hallelujah” chorus that he involuntarily rose in his seat and stood during the entire section. The audience, seeing the King rise, had to rise also and remain standing as long as their monarch did. What began as a spontaneous gesture has become a tradition, which is followed to this day, almost three centuries later!

You won’t want to miss this December 18th concert, which promises to be the finest performance of this cornerstone of classical music during the upcoming Christmas season!

Please visit www.gmchorale.org for tickets (no service charge) or call 860-316-4854 for further information. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for students. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.