Handel’s ‘Messiah’ coming to Welland

A 277-year-old piece of Christmas music will be performed by 76 people for Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association’s next show.

On Sunday, at Welland Centennial Secondary School’s 1,000-seat Dr. J.M. Ennis Auditorium, Niagara chamber choir Choralis Camerata will be featured in the third event on the concert association’s schedule, performing the classic, Handel’s “Messiah.”

There will be four soloists in the performance, as well as 50 singers and a 22-player orchestra.

“It’s a community chorus of people who love to sing, rehearse and perform these choral treasures,” said David Braun, artistic director and conductor for Choralis Camerata, which is in its 14th year.

Braun said the longevity of the classic musical piece, as well as the story behind its creation nearly 300 years ago, is what makes it special.

Handel was 57 when he took three weeks to compose “Messiah” in 1742 and was at “the lowest point of his career,” said Braun, noting Handel was “a step or two away” from debtor’s prison.

When the piece was completed, he accepted no profits from it and donated the money it generated to children’s hospitals and orphanages.

The show was first performed in Dublin, Ireland.

“No other piece of music has done more to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, foster the orphans,” said Braun.

Soloists performing in Sunday’s 2 p.m. show are Lawrence Wiliford, Christina Stelmacovich, MelissaMarie Shriner and Michael York, accompanied by Lynne Honsberger.

Visit wellandportcolborne concert.org.

Tickets can be reserved at 905788-1648 or by email hbelcastro@cogeco.ca.