A Christmas 'Messiah'

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

LONDON, ONTARIO – In the last hours of November we happily and gratefully took in the presentation of Handel’s Messiah at Metropolitan United Church featuring the London Symphonia with the Elora Festival Singers; arguably the finest professional choir in the country right now. The four soloists (sturdily competent if not quite stellar) were also drawn from the choir; with the tenor, bass, contralto and soprano stepping forward to deliver their songs and returning to the stand to join in with their colleagues on the exquisitely rendered choruses which constitute the real backbone and splendour of this most beloved of oratorios. The hall was all but sold out and once the obligatory hiccup of self-loathing neurosis was out of the way - otherwise known as the utterly vapid land acknowledgement - the assembled musicians proceeded to earn their rapturous and sustained ovation at evening’s end.

---

Read More