Rockford Choral Union presents its 78th season of George Frideric Handel’s “MESSIAH”
Saturday, Nov 30th and Sunday, Dec. 1st at 3 PM at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 9203rd Ave., Rockford, IL 61104.

These concerts were performed first in Rockford by the Rockford Lutheran Choral Union in 1945 as a gift to the community especially to veterans returning from World War II. With the exception of 2020’s Covid interruption, these Rockford concerts have been given every year since 1945.

This year’s presentations will be directed for the sixth year by Mike Beert including about 65 volunteer choral singers from many Rockford area churches with a full Baroque chamber orchestra, harpsichord, organ and trumpet.

The Rockford Choral Union again welcomes the same four talented professional soloists including two natives of Rockford, mezzo Claudia Holden, granddaughter of choir member Peter Thomas, and tenor Michael Day, Soprano Susan Nelson from Princeton, IL, and Bass Nicolai Janitzky, now residing in Belvidere.

The “Messiah” message remains a living testament to the One who came to bring salvation and hope to everyone.  Part One includes the prophecy of the coming Redeemer.  Part Two details the birth, life and  suffering, death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Part Three completes the story with the Resurrection of the dead with thanks for victory over death, and the Glorification of the Redeemer.

Handel was able to adapt this oratorio form to express the ideas of religious fervor and faith so strongly held during the reigns of Kings George I and II of England.  Handel used some of the music from his operas and adapted it to this sacred work using 79 passages from both the Old and New Testaments of the King James Version of the Bible.  George II was so moved by the music and its message at its first performance April 13, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland that he rose to his feet for the “Hallelujah Chorus”, an act which many attribute to the tradition of audiences standing during its singing.

Though many people have come to the “Messiah” concerts to be entertained, Handel was thought to have said to a friend, “I do not wish to entertain them, sir, but to make them better”.

Here are some more tidbits about Handel: He composed the “Messiah” in 24 days. Handel’s father wanted him to become a lawyer. Young Handel had to practice music on the sly with a borrowed harpsichord. He had his own organ shipped to Ireland for the first performance of the “Messiah”. Handel provided 600 English pounds in his estate for a monument to be built in Westminster Abbey; three years later the monument designed by a French sculptor was so installed.