Worcester – A Worcester holiday tradition continues Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m., as the Worcester Music Festival presents Handel's Messiah at Mechanics Hall. The Worcester Chorus has performed the Christmas portion of Handel's masterwork each year since 1897.
Experience the sound of 100-plus voices of the chorus under direction of Christopher Shepard, accompanied by the Festival Orchestra, in the beautifully decorated setting of Mechanics Hall. Singers in the chorus come from as far away as Bolton, Sharon, Southborough, Charlton, Brimfield, Lancaster, and Pawtucket, R.I., as well as Worcester and many of the surrounding towns in central Massachusetts.
Special guest soloists for this performance will include renowned Grammy-nominated counter-tenor Ryland Angel, performing the alto solo part; soprano Susan Consoli; tenor Stanley Wilson; and lyric baritone Steven Small.
The Worcester Music Festival is the oldest Music Festival in the United States, and carries a rich history, including that of the distinguished Worcester Chorus. Since 1858, it has been pre-eminent in presenting great performances by world-renowned orchestras and guest soloists, chamber music, ballet, world music and dance, jazz and choral masterworks in the best venues in Worcester. The Music Guild, a volunteer organization associated with Music Worcester, supports music programs for students and The Young Artist Scholarship Competition.
Tickets are $37, $34, and students $20 advance/$15 door. Mechanics Hall is located at 323 Main St. in the heart of downtown Worcester. For more information on the performance and tickets, call 1-508-754-3231 or visit www.musicworcester.org.
