The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Artscene professional chorus, shown above, will be joined by a professional orchestra. This is the first time the group has performed the Messiah in town. Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE · WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009 31 SUBMITTED PHOTO BY ELAINE CAVALHEIRO HANKERING FOR HANDEL: Those looking for a performance of Handel's Messiah can look to Oakville Chamber Ensemble's concerts on Nov. 28 and a sing-along on Nov. 29. Members of the Hallelujah! Handel's Messiah performed locally By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It is amazing what can be accomplished in a short period of time. Take the Messiah, for example. Handel wrote the oratorio, which is a musical setting of a sacred text, in three and a half weeks during the summer of 1741. He started composing oratorios in 1732, so by that point, it was a genre with which he was more than familiar. But it would be the Messiah, written in that short burst of creativity, that would remain the most popular of his nearly 20 oratorios. The press's enthusiasm of its premiere at a charity benefit in Dublin, Ireland and the corresponding public buzz led organizers to encourage ladies not to wear hoop skirts so that there would be room for more people. The Oakville Chamber Ensemble is hoping for the same kind of buzz when it performs the piece on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 28. Hoop skirts are optional. For those who know all the words and are looking for a more participatory night, the professional orchestra and chorus is holding a sing-along on the afternoon of Nov. 29. Singers of any performance level are invited to bring their own scores, or purchase one at the event, to sing along with the choir from the comfort of their pews. "People in the audience will be invited to join in the chorus from their seat, which will be a really unique experience," said Stephane Potvin, artistic director. "A lot of people sing in other choirs and they may or may not have the chance to sing Messiah. And there are people who might not be in choirs who would really like to sing it at least once in their life." the story. The performance will feature a nine"The story is compelling," he said. "In member orchestra and 16 singers. Many of my opinion, it is not just the story of Christ. the musicians hail from Oakville. The cali- It goes beyond that and is more about bre of the group is top-notch, according to humanity. So whether you are Christian or Potvin. not, it still touches people." "We are a professional group, so our Simply speaking, the Messiah tells the singers and musicians are highly-trained story of the life of Christ. It is divided into and have university degrees in performance, three parts, including I. The prophecy of his and most people have masters degrees in coming and his incarnation, II. His passion music," he said. "The singers who are and resurrection, and the triumph of the recruited are the best we can find, so the Gospel and III. Reflections on the Christian product is always very good quality. We're victory over death. unique in Oakville in that we are professionThe other reason for Messiah's timelessal and the fact that we are both orchestra ness according to Potvin is, of course, the and choir, so we are a music. Potvin said he is double entity." especially taken by "The Messiah is something Soloists are drawn everyone should experience Handel's word painting, from the choir and which is the musical at least once in their include soprano technique of having the Catherine Arcand and lifetime." melody mimic its lyrics. alto Erika Bailey, both of "Handel is a master at Oakville, as well as tenor Stepane Potvin, artistic director translating the text into Oakville Chamber Ensemble Michael Taylor and bass music," he said. "For David Roth. example, when we sing Potvin said every musician in his group `All we like sheep have gone astray, we have has performed the work before, but that the turned ev'ry one to his own way', the way it anticipation is still there. This is the first is written is the choir sings the same notes time, however, the musicians have per- over in circles, and the orchestra plays formed Messiah organized as the Oakville notes that sound clumsy, like sheep." Chamber Ensemble. The pivotal moment of the Messiah for "It is a lot of fun to perform," said Potvin, many is the Hallelujah chorus that closes who has conducted various musical groups Part II. over his 20-year career and is currently also Those who have been to a performance conductor in residence with the Thunder will know that people usually stand for this Bay Symphony Orchestra. "The funny thing portion. There are various explanations for about this piece is even if you play it many this, the most popular being that the first times in your life, but every time is a little time King George II heard the opening bit different and it is always challenging." chords, he was so moved he stood to show When asked what makes the Messiah so his admiration, leading everyone to do the timeless, Potvin replied that one reason is same. Tickets sales are already going well for the concerts, which is good news for Potvin. He expects both performances will be well attended. "There are some people who just want to come and listen to it and be taken by the story, and other people want to come and sing," he said. "The Messiah is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime." Following the November concerts, the choir will be joined by a group of singers from the Oakville Children's Choir to serenade the audience for Valentine's Day with the love songs of Brahms on Saturday, Feb. 6. On Saturday, April 10, it will perform Mozart's Hunt quartet. To conclude the season, the combined choir and orchestra will lift people's spirits on Sunday, May 16 with the motet Singet dem Herrn, the cantata Allein zu dir and the first orchestral suite by Bach. Handel's Messiah will be performed on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's United Church, 262 Randall St. This will be followed next afternoon at 3 p.m. by a Sing-along Messiah, also at St. John's United Church. Advance tickets per concert cost $25 (regular), $15 (senior/student), $50 (family pack). At the door: $35 (regular), $25 (senior), $15 (student), $70 (family pack) Subscriptions cost $100 (regular), $60 (senior/student), $200 (family pack) Pick three: $65 (regular), $40 (senior/student), $130 (family pack). Call or e-mail today to order at 905-8259740 or info@oakville-ensemble.ca. For information, visit www.oakvilleensemble.ca.