Season for ‘Messiah’ : Once Again, Handel’s Seasonal Favorite Tops the Christmas Lists

To no one’s surprise, Handel’s “Messiah” will dominate local music programming this holiday season.

The imposing oratorio originally had nothing to do with celebrating Christmas. Handel composed it to be performed during Lent, the six-week liturgical season just prior to Easter, because the only type of stage entertainments allowed during Lent in the British Empire of the 18th Century were devoutly religious oratorios. Only in the 20th Century has the work become a favorite musical icon of the Christmas season.

“The depth of inspiration of Handel’s oratorio makes it easy for people to relate to this 18th-Century work, even if they don’t know very much about Baroque style,” said Martin Wright, minister of music at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church. “It surprises me that people like even the ornate coloratura arias, which you would think might easily put them off. But they catch on to the bounce and flow of Handel’s eloquent writing.”

Wright, who is San Diego Opera’s chorus master, joined the La Jolla church staff four years ago. During his first few years there, he avoided programming “Messiah” because it had been sung so frequently.

“But I discovered right away that the choir was not tired of it, and their enthusiasm got me excited all over again about this familiar work,” he added.

No fewer than seven performances of the evergreen oratorio are scheduled across the county, from Solana Beach to El Cajon to downtown San Diego. Only the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Master Chorale’s performances of “Messiah” (Dec. 17-18) will come close to presenting the complete 2 1/2-hour oratorio. But for those who are content to hear the first portion of the work, which some call the Christmas “Messiah,” with the “Hallelujah” chorus tacked on as an upbeat finale, there are several options.

Among the precious few performers who chose to venture into more challenging repertory are the vocal ensemble Las Voces’ program of contemporary Latin American music at the University of San Diego (Dec. 18) and W. H. Auden’s “For the Time Being, A Christmas Oratorio” at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral (Dec. 18).

For the Las Voces program, Venezuelan conductor Xiomara DiMaio has selected “Canticos de Navidad” and “Villancico” by Juan Orrego-Salas as well as portions of Enrique Ubieta’s “Misa Cubana.” At the Episcopal Cathedral, Old Globe associate artist Richard Easton will read Auden’s narrative poem “For the Time Being, A Christmas Oratorio,” interspersed with carols sung by San Diego’s Early Music Ensemble.

Two seasonal works by the contemporary Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez, the “Misa Criolla” and the cantata “Nuestra Navidad,” will be performed Dec. 4-6 by the San Diego Choral Artists under director Ronald Gillis.

Festive settings of the Magnificat, a traditional liturgical text associated with Christmas and the Advent season that precedes it, are also popular this year.

The choir of San Diego’s First United Methodist Church will perform contemporary British composer John Rutter’s “Magnificat” with Johann Pachelbel’s “Magnificat” at the Mission Valley church Dec. 6. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Magnificat” will be performed at the First Unitarian Church on Dec. 6.

Under the direction of Carl Hermanns, the secular side of Christmas will be highlighted at the San Diego Symphony’s WinterPops concerts at Copley Symphony Hall (Dec. 18-20). The orchestra will play excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on “Greensleeves,” and LeRoy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival.” Steven Brezzo, director of the San Diego Museum of Art, will narrate Clement Moore’s classic holiday poem “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Organist Dennis James will lead the audience in a carol sing-a-long from the console of the hall’s mighty Robert Morton theatre organ.

Civic organist Robert Plimpton will lead caroling at the Spreckels Organ pavilion in Balboa Park (Dec. 20) after an organ recital assisted by bass Michael Morgan.

Where Christmas Concerts Will Be

San Diego Choral Artists directed by Ronald Gillis performs Ramirez’ “Misa Criolla” and “Navidad Nuestra” with tenor Fernando Mancillas; 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5; 3 p.m. Dec. 6; Church of the Nativity, Rancho Santa Fe.

* La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under David Chase, with Cleveland’s Metropolitan Brass Quintet, present works by Husa, Rutter and Vivaldi; 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6; UC San Diego, Mandeville Auditorium.

* San Diego Chamber Orchestra and MiraCosta North Coast Concert Chorale under Donald Barra presents Handel’s “Messiah”; 3 p.m. Dec. 6; St. Johns Catholic Church, Encinitas.

* San Diego Children’s Choir under Polly Campbell sings Christmas and Hanukkah songs; 4 p.m. Dec. 6; Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, Solana Beach.

* First Unitarian Choir and Orchestra directed by Daniel Ratelle sings Cantata No. 80 “Ein’ Feste Burg ist Unser Gott” and “Magnificat” by J. S. Bach; 5 p.m. Dec. 6; First Unitarian Church of San Diego.

* Chancel Choir and Masterwork Chorale under Robert Cooper sings “Magnificat” by John Rutter and “Magnificat” by Johann Pachelbel; 7 p.m. Dec. 6; First United Methodist Church of San Diego.

* New Covenant Choir and pianist Bryan Verhoye perform John Rutter’s Gloria and Haydn’s D Major Piano Concerto; 5 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6; Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church.

* Liturgical Choir under Joseph Running sings Advent Lessons and Carols, works by Buxtehude, Brahms and Peter Warlock; 7 p.m. Dec. 6; Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Poway.

* Soprano Ellen Lawson and the Allegro chamber ensemble under Karen Victor perform Christmas music by Bach, Handel, and Mozart; 7 p.m. Dec. 8; Solana Beach Library.

* Early Music Ensemble sings Renaissance motets and works by Billings and Ramirez; 8 p.m. Dec. 9; La Jolla Congregational Church.

* San Elijo Chorale directed by Gary Hammond sings Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Cantata No. 142 “Unto Us a Son Is Born”; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11; San Dieguito United Methodist Church, Encinitas.

* Soprano Carol Neblett joins San Diego Men’s Chorus in Pablo Casals’ “O Vos Omnes” and Mark Riese’s “Christmas Comes Anew”; 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 7 p.m. Dec. 13; First Unitarian Church of San Diego.

* Civic Organist Robert Plimpton and the Choral Ensemble from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts present seasonal favorites; 2 p.m. Dec. 13; Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park.

* San Diego Children’s Choir sings holiday concert (same as Dec. 6); 4 p.m. Dec. 13; Church of the Good Samaritan, University City.

* Chancel Choir and Orchestra under Martin Wright performs Handel’s “Messiah”; 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13; La Jolla Presbyterian Church.

* Westminster Choir and Orchestra under Myron Tweed presents Handel’s “Messiah” with living Nativity tableau; 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14; First Presbyterian Church of San Diego.

* Cantor Steve Kennedy and the Allegro chamber ensemble join the Chancel choir under Suzanne Kennedy; 7 p.m. Dec. 13; St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Lemon Grove.

* Westwind Brass ensemble perform Baroque sonatas and accompany carol sing-along; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Pacific Beach.

* San Diego Symphony and San Diego Master Chorale under Kenneth Kiesler present complete

“Messiah” by Handel; 8 p.m. Dec. 17; Copley Symphony Hall; 8 p.m. Dec. 18; Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon.

* Las Voces vocal ensemble under Xiomara DiMaio sings Latin American carols and motets; 8 p.m. Dec. 18; University of San Diego, Founders’ Hall.

* Richard Easton of the Old Globe Theatre and the Early Music Ensemble present W. H. Auden’s poem “For the Time Being, A Christmas Oratorio” interspersed with carols; 8 p.m. Dec. 18; St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego.

* San Diego Symphony under Carl Hermanns, the San Diego Children’s Choir and theatre organist Dennis James present a holiday program with excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” and LeRoy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival”; 8 p.m. Dec. 18-20; Copley Symphony Hall.

* Palomar Chorale under David Chase sings “Ringeltanze” by Libby Larson; also Palomar College Chamber Singers, Jazz Singers, and Palomar Youth Chorale; 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20; Palomar College, Howard Brubeck Theatre.

* St. Paul Cathedral Choristers sing Christmas Lessons and Carols under Edgar Billups; 5 p.m. Dec. 20; St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego.

* San Diego Interfaith Gospel Choir under Terri Mason presents a concert of Christmas gospel music; 7 p.m. Dec. 20; First Unitarian Church of San Diego.

* Civic organist Robert Plimpton and bass Michael Morgan lead annual Christmas carol sing-along; 2 p.m. Dec. 20; Balboa Park, Spreckels Organ Pavilion.