Submitted
The North Island Choral Society, led by artistic director Paul Colthorpe, again brings to the Christmas season their two performances of Handel’s Messiah.
They will perform together with well-known Vancouver Island soloists and accompanied by the NICS Orchestra.
Handel’s Messiah will be performed on Friday, Dec. 5. at 7.30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at St. George’s United Church, 505 Sixth Street, Courtenay.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Laughing Oyster Books in Courtenay, Blue Heron Books in Comox and from choir members. Tickets for children under age 12 are $5 and available at the door.
Handel’s famous work was first sung in Dublin, Ireland at Easter in 1742. It is an oratorio, loosely depicting the life of Christ.
Now, the Messiah is a fixture of the Christmas season. In most of Handel’s oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional and uplifting messages. The upcoming performances are likely very close in size of choir and orchestra to Handel’s original score.
North Island Choral Society has been singing to the Comox Valley community for over 30 years. Messiah has been in their repertoire from almost the beginning and they bring it to local audiences about once every four years.
Artistic director Paul Colthorpe is a music teacher in School District 71 (Comox Valley). His students and the choir know him to be full of enthusiasm for music and he brings that consummate love to the performances of the Messiah.
Elvera Penner is a local piano teacher and is the choir’s accompanist.
The choir is joined by four well-known soloists: Jacqueline Lambeth – soprano, Lisa Deith – contralto, David Brown – tenor and Christopher Bellamy – bass.
The NICS Orchestra (Corinne Innes – concert master) is made up of local musicians and many are members of the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, our regional community orchestra.
The choir will be at full strength with over 60 singers for the Messiah. These two performances are not to be missed.
These are concerts that from past experiences will be sold out quickly. For more information: northislandchoral.ca.
