In a city where tradition still counts for a lot, it's worth taking an extra look at the Handel Choir of Baltimore. This weekend marks its 75th annual performance of "Messiah," the most famous oratorio by the ensemble's namesake.
In 1935, there probably wasn't a great deal of competition at holiday time for the choir. "This year, there is a landslide of 'Messiahs,' " says Melinda O'Neal, the choir's artistic director and conductor.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra alone is responsible for three versions - last week's annual complete performance of the work, a gospel version this weekend, and a mix of the two for a community singalong on Wednesday. But the Handel Choir's "Messiah" offers features that should keep it from being lost in the crowd.
FOR THE RECORD - In an article in Tuesday's paper about the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's new season, an incorrect phone number for the box office was given. The correct number is 410-366-8596. The Sun regrets the error.
"What distinguishes us is a period instrument orchestra and high-quality, glamorous soloists," O'Neal says.
The opportunity to experience "Messiah" with the kind of instruments Handel would have heard is a major selling point, as is the strong caliber of East Coast players the Handel Choir utilizes. O'Neal introduced the period orchestra element when she took the choir's helm in 2004.
"Messiah" will not be given note-complete (one reason is O'Neal's concern for the audience's "fanny fatigue" from church pews), but "a big chunk" of Parts I and II and all of III will be included.
"Messiah" will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Ignatius Church, 740 N. Calvert St., and 4 p.m. Sunday at Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St. For tickets, call 410-366-6544 or go to handelchoir.org.
Shakespeare Festival season
The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival has announced an eventful 2009-2010 season that includes a rare double dose of plays running in repertory during the annual outdoor presentation in the Meadow on the grounds of the Evergreen Museum: Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" and Moliere's "Scapin" (June 23 to Aug. 1).
"This will be exciting, and a challenge," says artistic director Michael Carleton. "It will provide a contrast between how Shakespeare did farcical comedy and what Moliere did a hundred years later with a different take on the same thing."
Up first this season will be Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" (Feb. 12-21 at St. Mary's, 3900 Roland Ave.), part of the company's Teen Performance Program. "It's a challenge of a play even when adults do it," Carleton says. "It will be performed by high school students, but it will be treated like a professional production."
