“It’s done so
Roger Mastroianni
the Goossens version “to get a often because the music, advertise the perforpercent of the piece.” At the Handel and different take on the piece.” Haydn Society, which also performs Messiit’s popular, and mances, and set up the stage. Messiah could be viewed as the it’s so popular Not to mention sell the tickets. ah on period instruments, Artistic Director ultimate blank canvas. Several because The voluminous Messiah activHarry Christophers makes “about twelve seasons ago, Pittsburgh Symity in concert halls, theaters, minutes of cuts,” says Bernard. it’s done so phony Music Director Manfred churches, high-school auditoAlso in favor of reasonable Messiah trimoften,” says Honeck led a fully staged Mesriums and the occasional opera ming is James Feddeck, a former assistant Nigel Boon, siah—directed by Sam Helhouse by no means indicate that conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra frich—at Heinz Hall featuring the National the oratorio is a universal genwho’s leading a single Messiah performance scenes on Ellis Island and Jesus Symphony erator of sold-out signs. It isn’t. with the Indianapolis Symphony this seaas a 21st-century illegal immi- Orchestra’s One of the most consisson. “I normally don’t like to do cuts,” says grant. James Oestreich, writing director tent box-office successes is the Feddeck. “I think the composer has a cerin the New York Times, praised of artistic Handel and Haydn Society, tain vision and certain architecture. But in the music-making while tak- planning. “If I which first presented excerpts this case, it’s sort of become a December ing exception to some narrative could answer from Messiah on Christmas Day thing for Christmas and whatnot, so the choices: “In the end the produc- the question in 1815, and now performs the portions that are not directly related to that tion almost converted a skeptic, why, I’d whole work as an annual ritual: may not be applicable.” and that is a Handelian outthree performances in DecemOn the grandiose end of the sonic speccommission come.” Another radical variation ber at Boston’s Symphony Hall. trum this season will be the National Syma second on the piece will be proffered Executive Director Bernard says phony’s performances, for which Rossen Messiah.” this year by the St. Louis Symhouses come close to being full. Milanov will use the gargantuan Eugene phony, which is set to perform “It’s truly an anchor in our seaGoossens orchestration that Thomas Bee“Too Hot to Handel: A Gosson,” she says. “Our budget is cham commissioned and conducted in 1959 pel Messiah,” a version from the roughly $3.5 million. Messiah at the Lucerne Festival and subsequently early 1990s that the Baltimore accounts for about 25 percent of recorded with the Royal Philharmonic OrSymphony brought to Carnour total ticket revenue. Of all chestra. The National Symphony, which has egie Hall in November 2010. Of revenue, from single-ticket revperformed Messiah regularly since 1953, that performance, Steve Smith enue it’s about 42 percent.” had a major success in 2009 when it preopined in the Times: “The idea At the New York Philharsented Goossens’s modern-orchestra pagthat slick big-band riffs and an urbane monic, Messiah draws about 80 percent eant, which includes harp and a barrage of funk beat could sway a modern teenager capacity at Avery Fisher Hall for Tuesdistinctly un-baroque percussion. “It’s kind to Handel seemed like wishful thinking…. day and Wednesday concerts and largely of big in every way,” says the orchestra’s The real triumph was a few hunsells out the rest. The Philharmonic ocBoon. “The enthusiasm is big- The oratorio dred young voices loosed to soar casionally has considered putting Handel ger, the commitment is bigger. “is really a in a hallowed hall.” on the shelf for the holidays and doing It gives players in the orchestra theatrical “something like [Bach’s] Christmas Oratowho don’t play Messiah the oprio or [Berlioz’s] L’enfance du Christ, and portunity to play Messiah. There’s journey, and Eternal Popularity then we look at sales figures [for Messiah] no keyboard of any kind. The tri- I think that’s One reason Handel’s magnum and figure that people want to come,” angle [in ‘For unto us a child is what Handel opus draws crowds, onstage and born’] is the only thing I’d like to intended it off, is that “it’s very singable,” says Artistic Administrator Yim. On the to be,” says other hand, there’s no guarantee of pecunisee go.” says Feddeck. “When Handel ary bliss. “I wouldn’t say we make a lot of The size and shape of Mes- Apollo’s Fire died, all these choral societies money at all,” says Boon at the National siah tends to be determined Music Director were blooming. Even today you Symphony. “We break even.” The Philharby the artistic predilections of Jeannette can go practically to any city and monia Baroque Orchestra, led by Nichoconductors deeply immersed in Sorrell. “It find some Messiah singalong or las McGegan, has been able to make this HIP (historically informed per- speaks to sing-in. They’re far from pol“big bread-and-butter piece”—as Michael formance) or steeped in nineished performances. But they everyone, even Costa, the orchestra’s executive director, teenth- and twentieth-century pack an auditorium and people if you’re not a calls it—an annual event in recent years traditions. The New York Philsing through it. From an amaby being presented on local series, rather harmonic has performed Messi- Christian.” teur choral perspective, I think than producing the concerts itself, which is ah from both perspectives, most that has contributed to the popmore expensive. often using less than half the ularity of the piece.” The San Francisco Symphony began orchestra while the rest of the In whatever form it takes, presenting Messiah in 1925, but the work musicians perform other holiday Messiah calls upon dozens, if became a near-annual tradition only in fare. Edward Yim, the Philharnot hundreds, of players, sing1980 with the opening of the orchestra’s monic’s artistic administrator, ers, and staff people to obtain new home, Davies Symphony Hall. Louisa says he would like to program the score and parts, rehearse americanorchestras.org
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