SU Oratorio Society to perform ‘Messiah’ with Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in annual holiday event, Dec. 11

SU Oratorio Society to perform ‘Messiah’ with Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in annual holiday event, Dec. 11November 29, 2005Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Oratorio Society will perform as special guest with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in the SSO’s annual holiday presentation of Handel’s “Messiah,” Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. The concert will be held in the Mulroy Civic Center at the Oncenter and is sponsored by Cathedral Candle Company.

The SU Oratorio Society will perform under the direction of Elisa Dekaney, assistant professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Setnor School of Music. Guest conductor Andrew Constantine will lead the performance, which features vocalists Charlotte Paulsen, Christopher Pfund, Ding Gao and Jill Gardener.

Tickets for “Messiah” start at $15. All SU students will receive discounts if they mention they are SU students when purchasing. SU student ticket prices start at $12. Tickets are available by calling the SSO Customer Service Center at (315) 424-8200 or (800) 724-3810, or by visiting http://www.SyracuseSymphony.org.

According to Charles Burney, historian of 18th century music, “Messiah has fed the hungry and clothed the naked,” a reference to the fact that many productions of this masterwork have been staged to benefit some type of charitable cause. Keeping with tradition, the SSO is asking concertgoers to bring non-perishable food items to the performance. The items will be collected on behalf of the Interreligious Food Consortium, a network of more than 70 pantries and meal programs in Onondaga County.

“Once again the Syracuse Symphony continues this important practice of helping those in need, and we hope to make a significant contribution again this year to the Interreligious Food Consortium,” says Jeffry Comanici, SSO Executive Director.

From delicately spun melodies to the thrilling power of the ever-popular “Hallelujah Chorus,” Handel’s “Messiah” is an uplifting and inspirational holiday tradition. Renowned as one of history’s greatest composers, George Frideric Handel wrote operas, concertos and instrumental works. Perhaps his finest contribution to music, however, was through his magnificent oratorios, epic themed works for chorus, orchestra and soloists.

Composed in just three weeks, “Messiah” premiered in Dublin in 1742 to instant praise. The complete work is divided into three sections and features beloved arias and choruses, including the thunderous “Great Amen” and the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” through which King George II stood during the work’s second London performance, a tradition that audiences continue today.

For more information, contact the SSO at (315) 424-8200 or (800) 724-3810, orvisit http://www.SyracuseSymphony.org.