Handel’s Messiah will be the topic during this year’s Hazard Lecture, which will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Heritage Academy. The event will be virtual only.
The broadcast will include commentary and performance of two numbers from the 1742 oratorio, accompanied by a string quartet.
Susan Hurley, assistant professor of voice at Mississippi University for Women, will explore Handel’s career and style as represented in “There were Shepherds Abiding in the Field” and “He Shall Feed His Flock.” Elizabeth Jones, MUW’s visiting instructor of music, will then sing each number, accompanied by violinists Abbey Swartzendruber and Gracie Swartzendruber, violist Laura Sandifer and cellist Diane Ford.
“Messiah was an instant hit from its premiere in Dublin in 1742,” Hurley said. “Geoge Frederick Handel was a superstar in his time, and he used the theatricality of opera to create oratorios based on the Bible.
“In Messiah, his music exploits exciting contrasts among the orchestra, the chorus and the vocal soloists to bring the story of the Nativity and East alive in a way never before heard. Singing verses from the Old and New Testaments, those soloists tell the story. The orchestra provides the atmosphere and the chorus portrays the reaction of Christian believers to Jesus’ birth and death and promise of resurrection.”
Organist James Allen, founder of the Columbus Sings Messiah program, said this year’s program should have broad appeal.
“Messiah is in the bones of the English-speaking world,” Allen said. “It appeals to all age groups, and you see all ages wherever it is performed.”
This year marks the 30th year of the lecture series, which honors the memory of Columbus’ George Hazard. The lecture topics have included science, art, literature, and American and local history.
“Of course, we would prefer our traditional live audience, which provided question and answer times at the end of the program,” said event organizer George Hazard Jr. “But last year’s (virtual) broadcast on Beethoven brought out some encouraging comments from those who were watching.”
Another benefit to the virtual broadcast is that people can watch the event at any time after the original program, Hazard said, noting that the program will be available on the Heritage Academy Facebook page.
“Hosting these programs over three decades has been a great way for Heritage to serve the entire community,” said Heritage Academy Headmaster Greg Carlyle. “We’re eager to make the virtual performance available to everyone. We do hope to return in 2022 with our in-person evenings that are so beneficial to our students and enjoyed by so many friends of the series.”
To watch the program, go to the Heritage Academy Facebook page.
For information, contact Heritage at 662-327-1556, ext. 211.
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