Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to be performed at BGSU

BOWLING GREEN, O.—In celebration of the holiday season, the Bowling Green State University Choral Society and guest soloists, in collaboration with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, will perform Handel’s “Messiah” at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in Kobacker Hall of BGSU’s Moore Musical Arts Center. The performance is part of the 2009-10 Festival Series at the University’s College of Musical Arts.

Composed in just 24 days during the summer of 1741, “Messiah” follows the life of Jesus and its significance according to Christian doctrine—including the Advent and Christmas stories, the Passion and Resurrection—as well as some of the events chronicled in the book of Revelation. Though often performed in churches during the holiday season, “Messiah” was actually for a secular audience and premiered during Lent.

Dr. Mark Munson, an associate professor of music education at BGSU, will conduct the Bowling Green performance. Featured soloists are soprano Carol Dusdieker, an Indiana University student pursuing a doctorate in music; mezzo-soprano Fenlon Lamb, who holds a master’s degree in opera performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music; Christopher Scholl, an associate professor and coordinator of voice at BGSU, and Sean Cooper, an assistant professor of voice at BGSU.

The University Choral Society is a large symphonic chorus consisting of University students, faculty and staff members, and singers from the northwest Ohio community. Under the direction of Munson, the ensemble has performed with various orchestras including the Toledo Symphony and the BGSU Philharmonia.

The Toledo Symphony consists of nearly 80 professional musicians dedicated to providing inspired musical performances and perpetual music education to all audience members.

Tickets for the event are $36, $28 and $20 for adults and $29, $22 and $15 for students. Group ticket prices are also available upon request. For more information, contact the box office between noon and 6 p.m. weekdays at 1-800-589-2224 or 419-372-8171, or by email at musictickets@bgsu.edu.

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(Posted November 19, 2009 )