IN CONCERT
What: Sing-Along Messiah
Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Ave.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $23 ($19 for seniors, $10 for students) through the Alix Goolden box office (250-386-5311), Long & McQuade, Munro鈥檚 Books, Ivy鈥檚 Bookshop, Tanner鈥檚 Books (Sidney), and eventbrite.ca
Note: Children 12 and under are free
Music director Brian Wismath is heading into his third Sing-Along Messiah next week, when the Civic Orchestra of Victoria joins a quartet of guest singers and many hundreds in the audience at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, who will serve as the chorus for Handel鈥檚 inimitable oratorio.
Those who attend need only sing, if they choose. Wismath鈥檚 job is considerably more difficult, as it requires him to bring something new each year to one of the world鈥檚 most well-known compositions.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a tricky balance between keeping it fresh and new and inviting for people, while also maintaining the tradition behind the work,鈥� Wismath said.
While this year鈥檚 Sing-Along Messiah is the 21st produced by the Victoria Choral Society 鈥� which made its debut on Dec. 19, 1934, with a performance of Handel鈥檚 Messiah 鈥� there are new elements every year, including the orchestra, the soloists and, of course, the audience.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a different type of energy each year, but there鈥檚 some key common elements that bring people together 鈥� first and foremost, the music,鈥� Wismath said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so well-known, and is probably the most-performed work internationally on a yearly basis.鈥�
Wismath doesn鈥檛 see a time when performances of Handel鈥檚 Messiah will decrease in popularity.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of joy in Messiah, and a lot of rejoicing and excitement. But there鈥檚 also a lot of reflection. There鈥檚 some sorrow, and I think for many people, this time of year affects them in a variety of those ways. It鈥檚 not simply the Hallelujah Chorus 鈥� it鈥檚 also He Was Despised and Rejected of Men or Since By Man Came Death.鈥�
Wismath, who received a master鈥檚 degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, has extensive experience as a choir director and conductor, and currently serves in various capacities with the Victoria Choral Society, the Vox Humana Chamber Choir, the Linden Singers and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
His extensive experience in the field of choral singing makes Wismath the perfect choice to lead amateur singers through their paces for Handel鈥檚 Messiah.
The Civic Orchestra of Victoria and soloists Anne van der Sloot (soprano), Ciara Gallagher (mezzo), Jan van der Hooft (tenor) and Nathan McDonald (bass) are there to do the heavy lifting, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like being on a rollercoaster with a bunch of people,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e all going to scream and shout, and it鈥檚 going to be a good time. It鈥檚 about being part of the music-making. There鈥檚 always enough people who know it inside and outside.鈥�
It鈥檚 the interpersonal aspect of Sing-Along Messiah, especially, that brings joy to Wismath each year.
It affects people emotionally, he said, especially in December, when it is most often performed.
鈥淔or a lot of people, Messiah 鈥� and certainly Sing-Along Messiah 鈥� is a tradition, it鈥檚 something that people look forward to, regardless of what鈥檚 going on in their lives. At this really busy time of year, it鈥檚 nice to take a couple of hours out of the business and come together and celebrate a great piece of music, sing some choruses, and hopefully have a little bit of calm going into the holidays.鈥�
