Heidelberg University has maintained a tradition of presenting portions of G.F. Handel’s Messiah during the Christmas season. This year, the School of Music & Theatre will combine its 128th performance of Messiah with a festive journey around the world to celebrate the sounds and ceremonies of the season. The annual concert, Joy to the World: A Heidelberg Christmas, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Ritz Theatre.
Joy to the World is a two-part celebration and collaboration of all of the School of Music & Theatre’s performing ensembles, large and small. Featured ensembles include the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers, the University-Community Chorus, the Marching Band, the Symphonic Band, the Heidelberg Hei-Notes show choir, the Community Music School and Heidelberg theatre students.
In the first part, holiday traditions from around the world take center stage. Explore Hanukkah with a dreidel song, delight in Christmas carols with a Latin flavor, celebrate the 200th anniversary of Silent Night and experience ’Twas the Night Before Christmas like never before.
For the second half of the concert, Heidelberg returns to the inspirational Christmas classic, Handel’s Messiah. Various Messiah arias and choruses will be performed, including the stirring Hallelujah Chorus. The ensembles will be joined by professional soloists Drake Dantzler (tenor) of Rochester, Michigan, Antona Yost (alto) off Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Carol Dusdieker (soprano), director of the School of Music & Theatre and professor of voice at Heidelberg.
Community members and Heidelberg alumni are invited to sing with the chorus for the Messiah portion of the performance. If interested, please call Pat Page in the School of Music & Theatre at (419) 448-2073 by Dec. 3 to reserve your seat on stage.
The audience will be invited to join the entire School of Music & Theatre cast for Let There Be Peace on Earth in a joyful finale to the concert.
Tickets for Joy to the World: A Heidelberg Christmas can be purchased at the Ritz Theatre box office at (419) 448-8544 or online at www.ritztheatre.org. The cost is $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors and children under 12.