Handel and Haydn Society Launches ‘CitySing’ and‬ Brings Boston Together for Annual Performances of‬ ‭ Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬ ‭

Singers from the Greater Boston Community Join‬ the H+H Orchestra and Chorus and H+H Youth Choruses Chamber Choir‬‭ to Present Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ at Symphony Hall Thanksgiving Weekend‬

BOSTON‬‭ | For the 171st consecutive year, the Handel‬‭ and Haydn Society presents Handel’s‬‭ glorious‬‭ Messiah‬‭ at Symphony Hall November 29 + 30‬‭+ December 1, performing on period‬‭ instruments like those Handel knew and composed for. New this year H+H introduces ‘CitySing’‭ as Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen welcomes singers from choral ensembles throughout‬‭ Greater Boston to join the H+H Orchestra and Chorus, high school aged singers of the H+H‬‭ Youth Choruses Chamber Choir, and featured soloists on stage to share in the joy of performing‬‭ the much-loved music of‬‭ Messiah‬‭.

‬CitySing was conceived by Cohen to celebrate and showcase the vitality of Boston’s singing‬‭ community. H+H engaged with local choral ensembles, universities, churches, and other singing‬‭ groups to select finalists through an audition process. CitySing also honors the inspiring original‬‭ spirit of H+H’s founding as a choral Society by a group of music-loving Bostonians who believed‬‭ that music-making should be a shared experience. H+H is launching CitySing with‬‭ performances of Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ , a work that has‬‭ been identified with H+H since the Society‬‭ performed the “Hallelujah” Chorus during its first concert held on Christmas Day in 1815 at‭ Kings Chapel in Boston. In future years, CitySing will be paired with other concerts featuring‬‭ different repertoire.‬‬

“Much like the oratorio‬‭ Messiah‬‭ , CitySing is a celebration of voices,” said H+H Artistic Director‬‭ Jonathan Cohen.“The breadth and depth of talent within Boston’s singing community and in our‬‭ own Youth Choruses is quite impressive. This multiplicity of voices joins with our professional‬‭ chorus and exceptional soloists to create a most spectacular‬‭ Messiah‬‭ and make this beloved‬‭ holiday tradition new once again.”

‭Featured soloists on the‬‭ Messiah‬‭ stage include: Trinidadian‬‭ soprano Jeanine De Bique‬‭ making her H+H debut; Boston-based‬‭ countertenor Reginald‬‭ Mobley‬‭ , who serves as‬‭ programming consultant for H+H and is co-creator of‬‭ Crossing the Deep‬‭ ;‬‭ tenor Nicholas Phan‬‭ ,‬‭ who appeared with H+H in Bach + Vivaldi Gloria during the 2021–22 Season; and‬‭ baritone‬‭ Sumner Thompson‬‭ , who appeared with H+H in Haydn +‬‭ Mozart during the 2021–22 Season.‬

‭H+H is dedicated to following historically informed performance traditions of Baroque and‬‭ Classical music, creating a sound every bit as fresh and contemporary as when the music was‬‭ first written. H+H performs Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ with‬‭ deep understanding, respect, and affection‬‭ honed by over two centuries of tradition and experience with this masterpiece.‬

H+H and‬‭ Messiah‬
Following nine months of rehearsals, H+H performed selections from‬‭ Messiah‬‭ , including the‬“Hallelujah” Chorus for its first concert held on Christmas Day in 1815 at Kings Chapel in‬‭ Boston. Exactly three years later (December 25, 1818), H+H gave the first complete‬‭ performance of‬‭ Messiah‬‭ in the U.S. with a chorus of‬‭ about 200 singers. H+H returned to the‬‭ work repeatedly, especially the “Hallelujah” Chorus, which was performed for dignitaries visiting‬‭ Boston as well as civic celebrations, including the January 1, 1863 concert celebrating the‬‭ Emancipation Proclamation, and for charitable causes, such as an 1882 concert to benefit the‬‭ Russian Jewish Refugees Society. H+H has performed‬‭ Messiah‬‭ during the holiday season‬‭ annually since 1854, including in 2020 when H+H presented a video streamed “Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ For Our Time,” recorded at GBH’s Brighton‬‭ studio using robotic cameras. Sunday,‬‭ December 1, 2024 marks the H+H’s 450th performance of the complete work. Even more H+H‬‭ and‬‭ Messiah‬‭ history can be found at‬‭ handelandhaydn.org/beyond-messiah‬‭ .‬

Musically Speaking‬
Forty-five minutes prior to each performance all guests are welcome to attend “Musically‬ Speaking” in Higginson Hall. Hosted by Teresa Neff, Ph.D., the Handel and Haydn Society’s‬‭ Christopher Hogwood Historically Informed Performance Fellow,“Musically Speaking” provides‬‭ background information and a lively discussion about the music and composers on the program.‬‭ In addition, guests will enjoy a period instrument demonstration in the main corridor off the‬‭ Massachusetts Ave. entrance 30 minutes prior to each performance.‬

‭Concert Information‬
The Handel and Haydn Society presents‬‭ Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ at Symphony Hall, Friday,‬‭ November 29 at 7:30pm; Saturday, November 30 at 3:00pm; and Sunday, December 1 at‬‭ 3:00pm. Individual tickets and subscription packages are still available for purchase by calling‬‭ 617.262.1815 or visiting‬‭ handelandhaydn.org‬‭.

About the Handel and Haydn Society‬
Boston’s Grammy-winning Handel and Haydn Society performs Baroque and Classical music‬‭ with a freshness, a vitality, and a creativity that inspires all ages. Called “one of the most exciting‬‭ ensembles of historically informed performances in the world” (OperaWire), H+H has been‬‭ captivating audiences for 210 consecutive seasons (the most of any performing arts‬‭ organization in the United States), speaking to its singular success at welcoming new audiences‬‭ to this extraordinary music, generation after generation.‬‭

H+H performed the “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s‬‭ Messiah‬‭ in its first concert in 1815, gave‬‭ the American premiere in 1818, and ever since has been both a musical and a civic leader in‬‭ the Boston community. During the Civil War, H+H gave numerous concerts in support of the‬‭ Union Army (H+H member Julia Ward Howe wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) and on‬‭ January 1, 1863, H+H performed at the Grand Jubilee Concert celebrating the enactment of the‬‭ Emancipation Proclamation. Two years later, H+H performed at the memorial service for‬‭ Abraham Lincoln.‬

‭H+H’s Orchestra and Chorus delight more than 76,000 listeners annually through concerts at‬‭ Symphony Hall and other leading venues as well as radio broadcasts. Through the Karen S.‬‭ and George D. Levy Learning and Education Program, H+H supports seven youth choirs of‬‭ singers in grades 2–12 and provides thousands of complimentary tickets to students and‬ communities throughout Boston, ensuring the joy of music is accessible to all. H+H has‬‭ released 16 CDs on the CORO label and has toured nationally and internationally. In all these‬‭ ways, H+H fulfills its mission to inspire the intellect, touch the heart, elevate the soul, and‬‭ connect all of us with our shared humanity through transformative experiences with Baroque‬‭ and Classical music.‬