Don Jensen, La Grande, will direct the 25-member orchestra, 50-voice choir and soloists Tina Christensen, Helene Hipple, Phil Hassinger, Aubrey Winn and Chris Eves in two 7:30 p.m. performances, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 at the LDS Church, 1802 Gekeler, La Grande.
Messiah premiered in Dublin on Easter Sunday in April 1742 and is Handel's most famous creation. It is among the most popular works in Western choral literature. The well known Hallelujah chorus is the rousing finale of Handel's Messiah. Tradition is for concert goers to stand during the chorus.
The name of the oratorio is taken from the Judaeo-Christian concept of the biblical Messiah which means "the anointed one" and in Christianity, the Messiah is Jesus.
Handel, a devout Christian,wrote the work as a presentation of Jesus's life and its significance to humanity for all eternity.
Although the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, it has become traditional since Handel's death to perform the Messiah oratorio during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season.
