Messiah, If You Must
Georg Friedrich Händel's Messiah (1742) is, I have to keep reminding myself, a masterpiece of music history. It is not that I hate the production, but its overexposure, due to the lamentable annual round of weary performances in December, has mostly deadened my ear to its pleasures.
Later this week, we will have a run-down of other Holiday Concert possibilities, but for some people, it is just not the Holiday Season without attending a performance of Messiah. And there's probably still someone out there who has not heard the piece. Here are some options around town, and if you know of one we missed, leave us the details in the comments. Check the Web sites linked here for ticket information and pricing.
INTRIGUING:
>> Try mixing it up a little by catching a smaller performance, with singers and players making some attempt to sound like an 18th-century ensemble. One such option, coming up very soon, combines the choir of Washington National Cathedral and a Baroque orchestra, at National Cathedral (Wisconsin and Massachusetts Aves. NW). Performances are this Friday (December 8, 8 p.m.) and Sunday (December 10, 4 p.m.).
>> Messiah eventually made it back to Händel's native Germany, where Mozart gave it an "updated" orchestration with German text. Cantate Chamber Singers will perform this version, Der Messias, next weekend: December 16, 7:30 p.m. (St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle St. NW) and December 17, 4 p.m. (Westmoreland Congregational Church, in Bethesda).
OTHERS:
>> Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with Concert Artists of Baltimore Symphonic Chorale: December 9 (7:30 p.m.), at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.
>> Landon Symphonette, Washington Civic Opera Chorus, Landon Little Singers: December 16 (5 p.m.), at the Landon School in Bethesda.
>> Messiah Sing-Along, at the Kennedy Center: December 17 (8 p.m.).
>> Big orchestra, big chorus, your basic traditional Messiah. It's the National Symphony Orchestra with the Cathedral Choral Society at the Kennedy Center (and with Christine Brandes singing the soprano arias, it's tempting): December 21 (7 p.m.), December 22 (7 p.m.), December 23 (8 p.m.), or December 24 (1 p.m.).
>> National Philharmonic, in the Music Center at Strathmore: December 23 (8 p.m.). As usual with the National Philharmonic, kids from age 7 to 17 are free, when with an adult at full price. Seating is already very limited.