Word: messiahs
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Though Christmas time performances of Handel's Messiah abound in the greater Boston area, none could deny that the Handel and Haydn Societys annual production stands out from the usual "Hallelujah" shouting crowds. The H&H, as its aficionados fondly dub it, not only is the country's oldest continuously performing arts organization, dating from 1815, but has maintained the tradition of a December performance of Messiah every year since 1854. If last Sunday's rendition of Handel's 1753 version of Messiah is any indication, the H&H has not let its great musical heritage go to waste...
...kind of Celestine Prophecy precursor. But initiates knew better. Shrouded in its story lines were the keys to unlock the Hebrew Bible--and hence all existence. Whereas standard rabbinic Judaism sometimes seems to look backward to God's most intimate interactions with his chosen people and forward to a Messiah, Kabbalah stresses the Deity's presence as immediate at all times: an ongoing surge of light or energy communicated from the Unknowable to the material world via a series of 10 divine emanations, or sephirot. By studying and imitating these, the mystic could progress ever closer to their source. Sixteenth...
...those names. It has everything to do with the concept of wrestling with truths and not rushing to definite conclusions or accepting utopian visions and partisan platforms. The concept of systematic perfection, so central to the purposes of Gov 10, Ec 10 and Social Studies 10, is a false messiah. The best that can be learned from the ideas of political or moral reasoning offered in these courses are insights, not whole worlds. The solutions to questions are not answers but further questions, and those "answers" always necessarily sound a delightful cacophony. That is, the insights gleaned from civilizations...
Both the soprano and bass parts contain a great deal of extremely demanding coloratura, vocal play and lengthy runs, reminiscent of the earliest tenor and bass airs in Part I of Handel's Messiah. These passages, like nearly all of the piece, were executed masterfully. Saffer in particular seemed the very bird described by her lines, "Sweet bird,.../ Most musical, most melancholy,/ Thee, chantress of the woods among,/ I woo to hear thy even song." Saffer's song floated through incredible trills and arpeggios which spanned several octaves without the slightest hint of effort. The choir, though little utilized...
Lovers of baroque music are encouraged to attend the Handel and Haydn Society's future offerings at Symphony Hall, including the second and third installments of their annual Handel vocal works series, this year Messiah in early December and Julius Caesar in late March. Other season highlights include Bach's Christmas Oratorio and a collaboration with jazz great Dave Brubeck and his sons...