THE HANDEL’S MESSIAH concert, to be held at Meadow Glade Seventh-Day Adventist Church, will feature the 50-voice Bravo! Vancouver Chorale, the Washington Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists. Dr. Maria Manzo will lead the chorus and orchestra.
The Bravo! Vancouver Concert Series will present its annual Christmas production of Handel’s MESSIAH – An Oratorio, presented by Columbia Adventist Academy in Battle Ground.
The concert will be held Fri., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., at Meadow Glade Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 11001 NE 189th St., Battle Ground. The concert features the 50-voice Bravo! Vancouver Chorale, the Washington Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists. Conductor and Music Director Dr. Maria Manzo will lead the chorus and orchestra in this production.
“We are looking forward to performing MESSIAH in Battle Ground because it is such a welcoming community,” said Manzo. “The Bravo! Vancouver Chorale is sounding beautiful during our rehearsals. The group includes not only many long-term members, but also new singers from the Vancouver-Portland Metropolitan region.”
Manzo said they have four soloists for this concert – Jocelyn Claire Thomas (soprano), Valery Saul (alto), Scot Crandal (tenor) and Douglas Webster (baritone).
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed the music for MESSIAH in the summer of 1741 in just 24 days. It is recognized by music scholars as the Baroque era composer’s greatest masterpiece, and is one of the most performed—and beloved—pieces of sacred choral music in the world. Handel’s famous melodies and dramatic setting of the Biblical texts brings to life the story of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Bravo! Vancouver Chorale has toured nationally and internationally and has performed with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Orchestra, Seattle Jazz Singers, Sno-King Chorale and others. The Chorale has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center and regionally in Portland, Seattle, Edmonds, Olympia and Vancouver. The Washington Chamber Orchestra is comprised of freelance musicians from the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region.
Orchestra musicians perform with regional groups such as Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Columbia Symphony, Tacoma Symphony and others. The Bravo! Vancouver Concert Series is Southwest Washington’s only professional series featuring Broadway, jazz, chamber music, classical and sacred music.
The 2014-15 Concert Series season extends from December to June 2015. Season concerts will be held Crossroads Community Church, Cinetopia Movie Theatre and Camas High School Performing Arts Auditorium.
This concert is sponsored by Columbia Adventist Academy and is a free Christmas gift to the community. However, seating is limited, so attendees must have a general admission ticket. To receive your tickets, go to the Columbia Adventist Academy website, www.caaschool.org, or call (360) 687-3161. Click the “MESSIAH” link and fill out the form. Your tickets will be emailed to you. For parking and directions, visit www.meadowglade.com or call the church at (360) 687-2265.
