Stockton Symphony to perform Handel's "Messiah"

By Glenn Pillsbury

Special to The Record

December 07, 2006 6:00 AM

Since at least the mid-19th century, performances of Handel's lengthy oratorio "Messiah" have been an important part of the holidays in the United States. More recent years have seen that tradition narrow to performances of the piece's opening Christmas section and the famous "Hallelujah" chorus.

Nevertheless, there are some ideas that are best ignored as the start of a new performance tradition of the 18th-century work.

As an undergraduate violinist, Stockton Symphony conductor Peter Jaffe played in one full-length "Messiah" where the bass soloist actually wore a white powdered wig for the performance.

"It was like he thought he was in an operatic role, and everybody in the orchestra could just barely keep from laughing," Jaffe recalled. "He looked just like Handel."

There will be no wigs Sunday afternoon when the symphony, joined onstage by the voices of the Stockton Chorale, turns its attention to Handel's famous work. The concert features the Christmas section and the "Hallelujah" chorus.

The single-piece program also marks a departure from recent holiday concerts by the symphony, which have often featured a variety of musical styles, a guest vocal soloist, as well as a visit by that jolly fellow in the red suit.

"Looking back at our archives it's been 15 years since the last time that the symphony actually played the 'Messiah,' " Jaffe said. "We just think it's high time. It's a no-brainer."

Completed in 1741, the "Messiah" came at the tail end of Handel's hugely successful run as a composer of Italian opera for the London stage. The operatic connections are most pronounced in Handel's decision to reuse choruses and arias from his own earlier operas in the "Messiah," and simply provide the music with new texts.

Jaffe said his goal is to interpret the piece in terms of the underlying buoyancy of the music and to bring out its dancelike qualities.

"Even though the pieces aren't labeled as dances, so much of the Baroque era, with the rhythms and the affects of the movements, was about the absorption of dance rhythms and dance structures," he said.

Accompanying the orchestra and chorus is a quartet of soloists, all with ties to Stockton.

Jessica Siena (soprano) and Daniel Ebbers (tenor), along with Michael Sokol (bass) are well-known from Pacific's Conservatory of Music, and Kathleen Moss (mezzo-soprano) has family roots in the area.

Though the entire program length may be just a little shorter than a regular symphony concert, Jaffe said the opportunity to hear a significant portion of the "Messiah" more than makes up for that.

"Everyone will feel like they've gotten an evening's worth of fine music," he said.

Contact Glenn Pillsbury at features@recordnet.com

Concert preview

Stockton Symphony holiday concert

With: Stockton Chorale and Jessica Siena, Daniel Ebbers, Michael Sokol, Kathleen Moss

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College

Admission: $7.50-$44

Information: (209) 951-0196