Collingwood’s chorus is digging deep into music’s history for this year’s Christmas performance.
Choralworks Collingwood will be performing George Frederic Handel’s Messiah next weekend.
Messiah was first presented in 1742 in Dublin, and was performed as a benefit for a “foundlings” hospital. This year, it will be brought to Collingwood through the voices of the 28 singers in ChoralWorks.
This is the choir’s sixth season. The singers follow the direction of Brian Rae, whose career highlights include Choral Director at St. Michaels Choir School in Toronto, and organist at St. Michaels Cathedral.
“Messiah has become a mainstay of the Christmas and Easter seasons throughout most of the English speaking world,” states a press release from the Collingwood choir. “ChoralWorks is thrilled to bring MEssiah to life for everyone in the Georgian Bay area.”
The Messiah performance will feature Soprano Anna Bateman, Alto Mila Ionkova, Tenor Romulo Delgado, and Bass Douglas Tranquada. The instrumentalists include Joshua Tamayo on keyboard and Norman Engel on trumpet.
“[Engel’s] mastery of the trumpet makes the famous brass aria, The Trumpet Shall Sound, a most exciting and thrilling experience,” states the press release.
ChoralWorks will perform Messiah at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 and at 2 0.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1 at New Life Church on Tracey Lane in Collingwood. Tickets are available online here.
