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Enjoy Messiah this Christmas
- 11/09/10
- 16
This morning I let you know about a new book that provides background and commentary for Handel’s Messiah. And now I want to encourage you to take in a performance of Messiah this Christmas season. And just to get you started, I’ve done some of the work, at least for those of you who live in a few major cities.
Messiah is one of the last distinctly Christian cultural events. Think about it: every year thousands and thousands of people pack concert halls to hear people sing Scripture set to music. They hear prophecies of a coming Messiah, they hear of his birth, they hear of his death and resurrection and they hear of his coming return. It is a remarkable thing. I almost feel a responsibility to support this kind of an event. I try to go every year and always enjoy it immensely.
I think you should do the same. It’s really quite easy to find a performance. I typed a few cities into Google and quickly found performances in:
New York - New York Philharmonic with the New York Choral Artists. Avery Fisher Hall. December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 $37-$120
Toronto - Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Roy Thompson Hall. December 16, 18, 19, 20, 21. $38 - $107 (I’ll be there on the 18th, I believe!)
Atlanta - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus. Atlanta Symphony Hall. December 2, 4. $29 - $59
Philadelphia - The Philadelphia Orchestra with the Philadelphia Singers Chorale. Verizon Hall. December 19. $49 - $105.
Orlando - Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra with First United Methodist Church of Orlando Choir. Margeson Theater. December 13. $28. Note: There is also a free performance by the Messiah Choral Society. Click here for information.
I could go on and on. Los Angeles has their annual Messiah Sing-Along which allows you to bring your own score (or pick one up there) and join in the singing. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will be performing it on December 3 and 4. Dallas Symphony Chorus will be celebrating Easter with Messiah in April. And these are just the major events. Countless smaller churches, choirs and orchestras will also be offering performances.
So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets, buy the book, and prepare to have your soul stirred.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
Releasing on April 1, The Next
Published in 2008, this book
This is a guide that calls men,
This review of the bestselling
New to the site? You can get
This is a guide written
Comments (16)
We’re attending a performance in DC at the Kennedy Center. I believe it was $20 a person, which was very reasonable. Also, I know the National Cathedral has annual performances (the acoustics would be breathtaking!), and the cost is considerably more.
Albuquerque, NM - December 10th, 7:00 PM; December 12th, 3:00 PM. Both performances at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John’s. Tickets are $25.
I had ordered tickets for my wife and I last night, and ordered the book this morning using Amazon Prime.
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago does a performance every year in mid-November. They have thiers this coming Sunday (Nov 14th), but I believe it is sold out. Who knows though, if you check there could be some that have become available.
Our church will be going a 45 minute section of the Messiah in the middle of our Christmas Concert this year!
By the way, I also read that book that Challies posted about and appreciated it as well.
Thanks to your remarks about ‘Messiah’ a couple of months back, that same day I purchased tickets for the Edmonton show on December 5. Looking forward to it.
Handel’s Messiah in Memphis, TN -December 10, 8pm -Memphis Symphony Orchestra -Cannon Center for the Performing Arts -Tix: $15-$25
Montreal:MSO @ Notre-Dame BasilicaSaturday Dec. 11 and Monday Dec 137:30 PM
Providence, December 11
http://www.providencesingers.org/
Boston, December 3-5
http://www.handelandhaydn.org/
There are also do-it-yourself Messiah performances. If you read music (or know the piece well) and enjoy singing, it’s much more engaging than just sitting and hearing other people perform the work.
Cincinnati:http://tickets.cincinnatisymphony.org/calendar/?m=12&y=2010
If you are in the DFW Metroplex, the Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale presents Messiah each year along with the Fort Worth Symphony. You can attend at either Bass Hall or on the SWBTS campus. Go to http://swbts.edu/messiah or the FWSO website for ticket information. Tickets to the SWBTS venue are free but you must have one as it is usually a very full house.
Hi Tim-I’ve always wanted to go see a performance of the Messiah.. and as I was thinking about this, I remembered my membership with tsoundcheck. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has this opportunity for anyone ages 15-35 to get discounted tickets as part of this program. I emailed them about the Messiah, as it wasn’t on their webpage, and they did say that there was a possibility that tsoundcheck members would get discounted tickets for the TSO performance at Roy Thompson Hall! They said to check back closer to the dates.. so hopefully something opens up!
Also showing in Perth, Australia on Saturday, 18th December and Sunday, 19th December! I’ll be at the Sunday one.
So glad to find your site. You sound like a kindred spirit. Christmas isn’t Christmas without the Messiah.
In the San Francisco Bay Area:
http://www.sfcv.org/event/philharmonia-baroque-orchestra/handels-messiah
Outstanding yearly performance of Handel’s Messiah at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC (Charlotte) on December 10th, 11th, and 12th at 7pm. It might even be free but I’m not certain. Keep checking their website for updated information as the date approaches.
http://www.christcovenant.org/