Early Music Vancouver and Vancouver Chamber Choir join forces for Handel’s “Messiah”

by V. S. Wells on November 1st, 2023 at 3:06 PM

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Classical music fans, buckle up: one of the baroque big-hitters is returning. (Though not literally. Do you think Handel could handle 21st century technology?)

Early Music Vancouver (EMV) and the Vancouver Chamber Choir are teaming up for their first-ever joint performance of Handel’s Messiah, combining the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and local singers with the talents of four guest soloists: soprano Sherezade Panthaki, alto Allyson McHardy, tenor Nicholas Scott, and bass Jonathon Adams.

Each soloist will perform from memory, adding an extra layer of storytelling to the famed 18th century oratoria.

“Beyond its exquisite composition, Handel’s Messiah is a beloved holiday tradition revered around the world for its unique ability to transcend boundaries of faith, religion, and language,” says EMV artistic and executive director Suzie LeBlanc in a statement.

The performance, set to take place at the Orpheum on December 8, will combine a 21-piece orchestra (playing, more or less, period-appropriate instruments) with 24 chamber voices alongside the four soloists, led by conductor Alexander Weimann.

“Besides the iconic ‘Hallelujah’ chorus, the Messiah contains a great many catchy, foot tap, and smile-inducing choruses in addition to the more sombre, stately choruses,” says Kari Turunen, artistic director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, in a statement. “Handel knew how to write for voices and singing this work is a great delight.”

In case you need a refresher, Messiah is one of the most beloved pieces of yuletide music. Roughly retelling the classic Biblical story of Jesus’ birth and life, the text is full of allusion and symbolism—making its themes of redemption and the value of human life pretty broadly appealing, even if you’re not into Christianity yourself.

Originally written in 1741, the 53-movement piece has been performed in Canada since 1789, making this a tradition with two centuries of history.

“It speaks to the heart of seasonal proclamations of goodwill towards others and peace on earth,” LeBlanc adds, “something our world is in desperate need of currently.”