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PRIMER | The Great Big Messiah List: A Guide For Holidays (2018 Edition)

By Hye Won Cecilia Lee on November 13, 2018

Yes, Toronto, December is just around the corner and it means Messiah time: cut, uncut, traditional, children’s, a new adaptation — you can take your pick!

Once again, the season of joy, festivity and Handel’s Messiah is just around the corner.  Firmly established as the beacon of winter Classical music — along with Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, there are many suite arrangements, adaptations and vintage presentations of the Messiah, starting next weekend, then right up to Christmas Eve.  Here is the annual list of Messiah performances in and close to Toronto — what a rich list to fancy!

23–24 November

Georgetown Bach Chorale: 8 pm
GBC presents this favourite Christmas oratorio with orchestra, for two nights: 23rd at St. Elias the Prophet Ukrainian Church, and 24th at the Christ Church Anglican Church, both in Brampton.  For tickets, contact GBT or call St. Elias for the 23rd performance (905-873-9909) and Martha at Christ Church (905-451-6649 ext. 23) for the 24th performance.

24 November

36th Annual Mass Choir Music Worship: 3:30 pm
Dr. David Chin will lead the Association of Toronto Chinese Evangelical Church Musicians (ATCECM), in collaboration with Canadian Sinfonietta at the Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church.  Admission is open to all, with freewill offering.

Oriana Singers of Northumberland: 7:30 pm
In their 49th season, Oriana Singers and their new music director, Lynn Janes, present Messiah with chamber orchestra and guest soloists Agnes Zsigovic, Laura Pudwell, Ryan Downey and Geoffrey Sirett, at the beautiful Trinity United Church, Cobourg. Tickets are available through choir members, at-the-door, and at Burnham Family Farm Market and Victoria Hall Box Office.

30 November

Elmer Iseler Singers: 8 pm

Lydia Adams and the celebrated Elmer Iseler Singers are joined by guest soloists, Meredith Hall, Marjorie Maltais, Asitha Tennekoon and Giles Tomkins.  Organist Patricia Wright is supported by orchestra. There is a special pre-Messiah dinner available at the Albany Club, just a few blocks away from the venue, Metropolitan United Church, Toronto.  For tickets, call 416 217 0537.

ChoralWorks Chamber Choir: 7:30 pm (Fri) and 2 pm (Sat)

Brian Rae leads the ChoralWorks choir with guest soloists Anna Bateman, Mila Ionkova, Romulo Delgado and Douglas Tranquada, with full orchestra support at the New Life Church, Collingwood. Tickets are available online, phone (Heather @ 705-888-4454) and through any ChoralWorks member.

1 December

Pax Christie Chorale: Children’s Messiah, 4 pm
PCC is presenting the annual special one-hour interactive presentation for families with little ones. Simple narration and sing-alongs will keep the entire family engaged and participating.  Open to all, with pay-what-you-can at the Church of the Redeemer.

London Symphonia + London Pro Musica Choir: 7:30 pm

Kevin Mallon conducts London Pro Musica Choir and the orchestra; Capella Intima, a specialized early music ensemble with a flexible roster of singers and musicians, providing soloists Sheila Dietrich, Jennifer Enns Modolo, Bud Roach and David Roth.  Tickets are available online.

Arcady Ensemble: 7:30pm
Ronald Beckett conducts the Arcady ensemble at the Lighthouse Festival Theater, Port Dover.  Tickets are available online, or call 519-583-2221 or 1-888-779-7703.

Elora Singers: 8 pm
Mark Vuorinen leads the Elora Singers through the familiar classic at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, in the lovely small town of Fergus, Ontario.  Tickets are available online, or call 519-546-0331.

4–6 December


Soundstreams Ear Candy: Electric Messiah IV, 8 pm

Soundstreams returns to the Drake Hotel with Electric Messiah IV at the Drake Hotel.  The trio of vocalists: Jonathan MacArthur, Aviva Chernick, Alex Samaras, presents a fresh rearrangement of the Messiah, mixing it up with jazz, gospel, blues, and hip-hop.  Easily the most untraditional take of the season, it promises many surprises and delights.  Tickets are available online, or call 416-504-1282.

7–8 December

Symphony in the Barn: Messiah Sing-along, 8 pm

As part of the Christkindl Market at the Glencolton Farm (4-9pm), the Barn Choral Society presents a Messiah Sing-along at 8 pm. Participants are encouraged to bring scores if possible, and a mixture of Symphony in the Barn and local musicians will be performing.  Entry to the Christkindl Market is available online, and the sing-along workshop is admission by donation, and proceeds will go to Edgehill School.

7–9 December

Soulful Messiah, Fri/Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm

Ballet Creole’s signature holiday production returns to Harbourfront Centre.  A delightful mixture of tap, Afro-Caribbean, ballet, jazz and Modern dance styles to Quincy Jones’ rendition of the Messiah will get your feet tapping with its kinesthetic energy. Tickets are available online or call 416-973-4000.

8 December

Tafelmusik: Sing-Along Messiah Workshop, 2 pm
The massively popular Tafelmusik sing-along Messiah takes place in Eglington St. George’s United Church this year.  Ivars Taurins will work with the audience through the selection of choruses, and each section will be led by the members of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. Tickets are available online or call 416-964-6337.

Mississauga Choral Society Chorus: 7:30 pm

MCS chamber choir and director Mervin W. Fick presents Messiah with guest soloists Jennifer Krabbe, Jillian Yemen, Charles Davidson and Matthew Cassils, with orchestra at the First United Church, Mississauga.  Tickets are available online.

Kingston Choral Society + Kingston Symphony: 7:30 pm
Going strong with 100-mixed-voice-members, KCS and Orchestra Kingston presents Messiah with soloists Charlotte Stewart-Juby, Colleen Renihan, Tim Stiff and Korin Thomas-Smith at the intimate space of the Spire.  Tickets are available online, or at The Church Bookroom, Tara Foods and Novel Idea.

Stratford Concert Choir, 7:30 pm

Ian Sadler leads the Stratford Concert Choir, 85 all-ages members strong, in the annual Messiah concert with soloists Grace Rogers, Heather Jewson, Mathias Memmel and Daniel Van Winden at the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, in the lovely town of Stratford. Tickets are available online.

The Cellar Singers, 7:30 pm

With over 50 years of history, the Cellar Singers of Orillia present their annual Messiah concert with orchestra, Mitchell Pady conducts. Tickets are available through choristers, and at authorized ticket outlets, including the Orillia Opera House Box Office.

Bach Elgar Choir, 7:30 pm

Very few would know that it was the Bach Elgar Choir that presented North American premier of Verdi’s Requiem and the Canadian premiere of Mahler 2! A Hamilton stronghold since 1905, the BEC under the leadership of Alexander Cann performs Handel’s Messiah at the Melrose United Church.  Tickets are available online.

9 December

Windsor Symphony Orchestra + Chorus, 7:30 pm

Peter Wiebe conducts Windsor Symphony Orchestra and chorus, with soloists Simone McIntosh, Marjorie Maltais, Jean-Philippe Lazure, Bruce Kotowich, performing at St. Anne’s Church, Tesumseh.  Tickets are available online.

10–11 December

Brott Music Festival, 7:30 pm
Denis Brott and the Brott Music Festival present two full-orchestral performances of Messiah – first night in Hamilton, and second night in Waterdown.  Soloists Elizabeth Polese, Stephanie Yelovich, Bud Roach and John Fanning, and the Arcady Choir will join the orchestra. Tickets are available online.

11 December

B-Xalted!, a choir of well-known Toronto writers, directors, architect, artists and art workers, is holding its inaugural concert with highlights from the Messiah this winter.  Guest soloists Dallas Chorley, Rebecca Gray, Charles Davidson, David Walsh and Nicholas Borg, will join the choir under the baton of Simon Walker, with organist Andrew Adair, at the Church of St. Peter & St. Simon-the-Apostle. Tickets are available online, or at the door.

15 December

Mississauga Symphony, 8 pm

Denis Mastromonaco and the Mississauga Symphony present highlights from Messiah at the Hammerson Hall, Mississauga Living Arts Centre.  MS will be joined by soloists Angela Yoo, Lilian Brooks, Zachary Rioux and Christopher Dunham.  Tickets are available online.

17 December

Peterborough Singers, 7:30 pm

Soloists Shannon McCracken, Daniel Taylor, Benjamin Butterfield and Geoffrey Sirett will join the Peterborough Singers directed by Sydney Birrell.  Ian Sandler at the mighty Casavant organ, Paul Otway (Trumpet) and Stan Ewing (Timpani) will support the choir. Tickets are available online and at the local outlets in Peterborough.

17–19, 21–23 December

Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Mendelssohn Choir

This year, Canadian Opera Company’s Music Director, Johannes Debus conducts TSO and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for the annual Messiah galore.  Brilliant Soloists Claire de Sévigné, Allyson McHardy, Andrew Haji and Tyler Duncan will be singing.  Details, here.  Note that there is no performance on 20th.

18–21 December

Tafelmusik: Messiah
Ivars Taurins conducts the Tafelmusik orchestra and Tafelmusik Chamber Choir in the beautiful Koerner Hall, with soloists Sherezade Panthaki, Krisztina Szabó, Charles Daniels and Drew Santini. The pre-show presentation with Dr. Hannah French will explore the Messiah and Tafelmusik’s focus on historically informed performance practice. Tickets are available online and at the TM box office (416-408-0208).

22 December

Tafelmusik Sing-along Messiah, 2 pm
Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir move into Roy Thomson Hall with this year’s soloists, Sherezade Panthaki, Krisztina Szabó, Charles Daniels, Drew Santini, and Mr. Handel will lead the house on the perennial favourites from the Messiah. Tickets available here, and at the RTH box office. A special workshop also takes place in Eglington St. George’s United Church this year.

Messiah for the City

Messiah for the City was first conceived by the late Jack Layton.  Working with United Way and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Toronto Beach Chorale co-presents Messiah for the City.  The performance force includes players from the Toronto Symphony, and a combined chorus of 80 voices from TBC, MSC Chorus, Georgetown Bach Chorale. Tom Allen from the CBC will host. No tickets are available through general sales, as tickets will be distributed only through United Way and partners.

Guelph Chamber Choir: 7:30 pm
GCC hosts a local Messiah performance at the River Run Centre, Guelph. Gerald Neufeld guest conducts the choir with soloists Meredith Hall, Jennifer Enns-Modolo, Colin Ainsworth and Bruce Kelly.  Musica Viva Orchestra on period instruments will join the choir.  Tickets are available (online)

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