Handel's Messiah

On Friday, December 9 at 8:00pm St. Mark’s Musica Leonis Concert Series presents the annual Candlelight Concert featuring the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. The concert, conducted by Music Director Brian-Paul Thomas takes place in the cathedral-like setting of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan. The forty voices of St. Mark’s Chorale will be accompanied by an orchestra of professional musicians from New York City and New Haven. Yale graduate Mark Swicegood joins the orchestra as Continuo Harpsichordist. This season’s performance includes the talents of nationally recognized young opera artists.

Lauded by The New York Times as “vocally striking and visually appealing,” and for her “plumy, nuanced mezzo” by Backstage, American mezzo-soprano Sarah Heltzel made her Seattle Opera debut as Siegrune and Flosshilde in its acclaimed Der Ring des Nibelunge. Additional opera companies with whom Ms. Heltzel has performed includes those of Nevada, Syracuse, Indianapolis, Toledo, Chautauqua and the Israel Vocal Arts Institute. Her concert appearances as mezzo-soprano soloist include the Back Bay Chorale of Boston and Boston Chamber Music Society, Red Rocks Music Festival, Seattle Symphony, Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall.

Bass Christopher Temporelli has been praised for his resonant voice and elegant singing and is in demand across the United States and abroad. Actively appearing in concert and recital, Mr. Temporelli’s credits include the world’s most prestigious ensemble and concert halls; Carnegie Hall, the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center with the Washington Chorus, the historic Hudson Theater, as well as performances with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa under the direction of Maestro Pinchas Zukerman.

Award-winning singer Mary Petro performs regularly in regional opera houses, in opera in the greater NYC area and with New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Petro has also appeared abroad, including France and Israel, and performs regularly with the St.Mark’s Chorale as soprano soloist. 

Praised for his beautifully-sung and well-acted interpretations of character roles, tenor Joseph Gaines has been described as “such an exuberant performer you couldn’t help but smile” (The Minneapolis Star-Tribune). Opera News raved about several of his performances, including Indianapolis Opera’s productions of Falstaff and The Magic Flute. Opera Today enthusiastically received his Glimmerglass Opera debut as Mercury in Orpheus in the Underworld. Mr. Gaines 2008 performance at Glimmerglass Opera in Wagner’s Das Liebesverbot was described variously as “impressive” (The New York Times), “entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal), and “blessedly cliché-free” (Opera Today). His performances have been broadcast domestically and internationally by NPR and Public Radio International.

Tickets for the performance are $30 designated patron seating with advanced purchase, $20 general seating and $10 student tickets are available through St. Mark’s Office, The Lion’s Den Book and Gift Shop and at the door. A gala reception will follow the performance. More information: 203-966-4515 – www.stmarksnewcanaan.org.