The public is invited to an evening of song Dec. 9 as Lenoir Community College and the Community Council for the Arts present the 16th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah under the direction of Carolyn Crossland, program chairwoman of music at the college.
The sole performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Waller Building Auditorium. Admission is $7 at the door and doors open at 6:30.
Accompanying the choir will be a 15-piece chamber orchestra from the North Carolina Symphony. Justin Sturz of Greenville will be the performance pianist. Soloists include East Carolina University voice faculty Dr. Jami Rhodes, alto; ECU Head Music Librarian, David Hursh, tenor; conductor of the Greenville Choral Society Youth Chorale Peggy Vaughan, soprano, and Joel Gay, co-minister of Music at First United Methodist Church in Wilson, bass soloist.
.Handel was born in Germany in 1685, studied in Italy, and worked the majority of his career in England. Although his early compositions were mostly operas, his masterpieces are his oratorios, large works for chorus and orchestra often based on a Bible story, but lacking costumes, sets, and acting. His most famous oratorio, Messiah, considered by musicologists to be the most performed and most recognized work in all music literature is a fixture of the Christmas season that still awes listeners 250 years after the composer’s death. Citing Messiah, composer Ludwig van Beethoven, said Handel was the "greatest composer that ever lived."
Due to Handel's superstar status in England, Messiah burst onto the stage when it was performed in Dublin in 1742, with audiences of over 700 in a room that seated only 600. Ladies were asked by management to wear dresses "without hoops" and men were asked to “leave ceremonial swords at home” in order to make "room for more company."
Handel composed Messiah in 1741 in only three to four weeks, literally writing from morning to night. Charles Jennens, a well-known author wrote the text for Messiah, using selected passages from the old and new testaments. Unlike most oratorios, Messiah offered very little plot. Part I prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ; Part II exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and the final section heralded his resurrection. Only Part I will be performed at LCC.
In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate the performance and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, the chorus takes a much larger role, commenting on the action and moving the story forward with great emotional impact and uplifting messages.
There is little doubt about Handel's own fondness for Messiah. His annual benefit concerts for his favorite charity, a home for abandoned and orphaned children in London, always included Messiah. In 1759, when he was blind and in failing health, he insisted on attending an April 6 performance of Messiah at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Eight days later, Handel died at home. Unlike most musicians of his time, Handel amassed a fortune through his music and shrewd investments. His estate was assessed at 20,000 pounds, which made him a millionaire by modern standards. He left the bulk of his fortune to charities and much of the remainder to friends, and servants.
Abroad, Handel's reputation, and that of his best-known composition, continued to grow. By the early 19th century, performances of Messiah had become an even stronger Christmas tradition in the United States than in Britain. The musical giant Mozart confessed himself to be humble in the face of Handel's genius. Mozart said, "When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt."
For more information, contact Crossland at 252-527-6223, ext 919, or ccrossland@lenoircc.edu.