Confederation Singers, Orchestra, and Guest Soloists Perform Handel’s Messiah

Sobeys LIVE @ the Centre presents seasonal classic December 1 in the Homburg

On Sunday December 1 at 2:30 p.m., Sobeys LIVE @ the Centre celebrates one of the most enduring pieces of music in the Western choral cannon. The Confederation Singers, guest orchestra, and four featured soloists are set to perform Handel’s Messiah, the Baroque-era masterpiece that celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Messiah, an oratorio, is the most famous creation of German composer George Frederic Handel, and its performance still awes listeners more than 250 years after the composer’s death. Ludwig van Beethoven, citing Messiah, said Handel was the “greatest composer that ever lived.”

The concert is an annual tradition at Confederation Centre of the Arts, led by Choral Music Director Donald Fraser. Joining the centre’s adult choir, the Confederation Singers, this year are four guest vocalists, well known in the Canadian choral community. The Choral Music Programme is sponsored by Maritime Electric.

The soloists include: mezzo-soprano Hannah O’Donnell; soprano Christina Haldane, a professor with Dalhousie University’s School of Performing Arts andnewcomer to the annual Island event; baritone Parker Clements; and tenor Michael van der Gaag. See addendum for additional details on each soloist.

The Confederation Singers include more than 60 members from across the community. The singers present a varied program of music throughout the year, performing seasonal concerts on local stages and at a variety of events. Other concerts include Choral Music on a Holy Day (April 10) and the popular holiday tradition Sing Along Messiah, Dec. 28 , at the Kirk of St. James, where the audience is invited to participate.

The show will be presented in the Homburg Theatre of Confederation Centre. Tickets are available at the door, at Confederation Centre’s box office, online at confederationcentre.com, or via phone at 902-566-1267 (toll free at 1-800-565-0278).

Please note, that through Sunday evening on December 1, the Victorian Christmas Market is presented by Discover Charlottetown. Patrons are advised that. until 11 p.m. on December 1, the following streets will be closed to all traffic, with no parking permitted: Queen Street, between Grafton and Sydney; and Richmond Street, between Pownal and Great George.

Concertgoers should leave extra time, parking a few blocks away or nearby in one of Charlottetown’s parkades.People with mobility concerns will still be able to access the Queen Street elevator into the lobby level of Confederation Centre. Those patrons being dropped off will need to do so at the corner of Queen and Grafton.

Special thanks are extended to the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of P.E.I., and the City of Charlottetown for their continued support.

PEI Professional Theatre Network