CSUN Performance to Feature a Non-Traditional ‘Messiah’

Handel’s “Messiah” is a Christmas tradition, but this year’s performance at Cal State Northridge won’t be the traditional kind--at least if you’re thinking of ones that use the same massive forces as a Mahler symphony.

John Alexander, who will conduct the concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, said he is using the Northridge Singers, a 50-voice ensemble, and a chamber orchestra to give the feeling of original oratorio instead of the later, heavier orchestrations.

And instead of the customary four soloists, he is returning to the practice of spreading the solos among a dozen chorus members.

“You can move the tempos more,” Alexander said of his choosing the reduced chorus and orchestra. “Otherwise, the basic elements get lost. . . . It’s too dark.” At the same time, using many soloists allows a wider style of voices in the varied solos.

Although “Messiah” tells the entire life of Christ, holiday performances are usually limited to the first part, which is the Christmas portion.

“It’s not a complete version, but we’re doing an overview so people used to the Christmas section are going to hear some new things,” he said.

Yuletide performances of the oratorio, which Handel wrote in a few weeks in 1741, occasionally borrowing from his earlier works, are more common in the United States than in Europe. The reason, Alexander said, is that the solos and choruses have become very popular through their use in churches.

“It’s really fascinating that an 18-Century work exists that people know as well as ‘Messiah,’ ” he said.

CSUN is performing “Messiah” for the first time in 8 years, but has relinquished another tradition--its Elizabethan Christmas Feast.

Alexander, who helped pioneer the popular Elizabethan feasts while he was at the University of Illinois, said he needed a rest after doing them at CSUN for 9 years.

As a result, he organized a Dickens Christmas Feast instead, in which various Charles Dickens characters, caught in a winter storm, seek shelter in the Hollytree Inn.

As with the Elizabethan feast, the Dickens performances were sold out a few weeks after tickets went on sale several months ago. Alexander said he hopes to alternate the two events. Perhaps getting on CSUN’s mailing list should be a New Year’s resolution.

Tickets for “Messiah,” being performed at the CSUN Student Union, 18111 Nordhoff St., are $5, $2 for students and seniors.

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Another holiday concert will be given at 2 p.m. today by the Los Angeles Solo Repertory Orchestra in the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive.

Under the direction of James A. Swift, the orchestra and soloists will perform several selections from “Messiah” along with a Christmas carol sing-along. Other selections will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Saint-Saens. Admission is free.

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Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Valley College Guitar Ensemble will give a recital at 7:30 tonight in the Music Recital Hall at the college, 5800 Fulton Ave., Van Nuys. Admission is free.

David Aks will conduct the CSUN Symphony at 8 p.m. Tuesday in a concert featuring Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1. Tickets are $5 and $2.

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Music of Hindemith and Mozart will be featured in a CalArts faculty chamber music recital at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The performance will be in the Roy O. Disney Music Hall at the institute, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia. Tickets are $5 and $2.

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A chamber music recital, conducted by William Calkins, will be given at 8 p.m. Thursday in the CSUN Recital Hall. Admission is free.

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A concert of Christmas works by Bach and Heinrich Schuetz will be given by the CalArts Collegium, conducted by Paul Vorwerk, at 8 p.m. Friday at the Disney Music Hall. Admission is free.

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The CSUN Youth Academy Orchestra will give a children’s concert featuring Bob Schneider at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sutter Junior High School, 7330 Winnetka Ave., Canoga Park. Tickets are $5.