Rockford Choral Union Presents 74th ‘Messiah’

Rockford Choral Union Presents 74 th ‘Messiah’

By Janine Pumilia

The Rockford Choral Union’s performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” is among the most beloved Christmas traditions in our region and certainly the longest-running, having begun in 1945.

This year’s performance will be at 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 3 rd Ave. This is the original location where it was first performed in Rockford.

The three-part story begins with Old Testament prophecies of Jesus’ birth, leading up to the Gospel accounts of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection and glorification. The famous and muchloved “Hallelujah Chorus” is sung at the end of Part Two.

Many patrons say the concert starts off their Christmas season right, by reminding them of the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place – Jesus Christ.

“Every single word is directly from the King James Bible,” says Webb Stevens, vice president of the board of governors for the Rockford Choral Union and a “Messiah” singer for six years with wife Sylvia. “We really focus on diction so people can understand the words and the message. The music is amazing, of course, but we’re all about the message.”

What began as a labor of love in local Lutheran churches, at the end of World War II, has grown to include people of all Christian denominations, says Stevens. More than 60 churches are now represented in the local performance.

Singers aged 13 to 80-something commit to six Sunday afternoon rehearsals in October and November along with the two concerts over the Thanksgiving weekend. Some have sung “Messiah” for more than 30 years. The late Elsie Lundvall, the last charter member of the choral union, will be remembered at this year’s concert in a special memorial. Up until a few years ago, she performed with the groups every year since 1945.

Some singers come from the Chicago suburbs to be part of Rockford Choral Union’s “Messiah.”

“We’ve earned a reputation as one of the better choral performances in the country,” says Stevens.

For the second year, Michael Beert will direct the production. He’s been involved as a cellist with the group since 1985 and was named its sixth director after Nat Bauer retired from that role in 2017. Born in Rockford, Beert has been a cellist for 49 years and the Principal Cello in the Rockford Symphony Orchestra for 10 of his 25 years there. He’s also Professor of Music and Academic Chairman of Music and Art at Rock Valley College.

Rachel Handlin, who is married to Beert, has conducted the choral union’s chamber orchestra for more than 20 years.

Baritone Nicolai Janitzky, a Belvidere resident and frequent soloist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, will return for his second year as a guest soloist.

Three new guest soloists will also be featured, including Rockford native Michael Day. “Opera News” describes the young lyric tenor’s voice as “bright, clear, and endearing.” He spent the past two seasons working as a studio artist at Michigan Opera Theatre, where he performed the title role in “Candide,” Al Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath,” and Spoletta in “Tosca.” He spent the past three summers performing at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Sisters Susan Nelson (soprano) and Joanna Gates (mezzo) are natives of Princeton, Ill. Nelson lives and works in Chicago and is a member of the Lyric Opera Chorus and the Grant Park Symphony Chorus. Gates lives on the East Coast and works with the Grammy-winning choral group, The Crossing.

Beert describes the soloists as high-level performers with superior musical technique and distinctive, beautiful voice quality.

Handel was 55 years old when he Guest tenor Michael Day wrote “Messiah,” an English language oratorio composed in 1741. He debuted it in Dublin, Ireland. Legend has it that when “Messiah” was first performed in London a year later, King George II was so moved by the music that he stood up for the “Hallelujah Chorus,” starting a tradition that continues to this day.

There’s no charge to attend this exquisite performance because it has always been presented as a Christmas gift to the community, although a voluntary offering will be taken. Parking is free. Learn more at RockfordChoralUnion.com. ❚

Ted Johnson Photo