CELEBRATES 135 YEARS OF PERFORMING HANDEL'S "MESSIAH” AT ORCHESTRA HALL AT SYMPH
Sat Dec 6, 3:00 PM - Sun Dec 7, 12:00 PM

The Apollo Chorus, Chicago’s oldest musical organization, will perform their signature rendition of the choral masterpiece Handel’s “Messiah” on Saturday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., and Saturday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m. at Harris Theater for Music & Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive. Handel’s “Messiah” has been performed by The Apollo Chorus nearly every December since 1879. Few works today are as celebrated or beloved as Handel’s Messiah, and this annual performance has become a holiday tradition for many Chicago families.

John von Rhein from the Chicago Tribune has called the performance “Spirited!” and said “The oldest musical organization in Chicago has much to sing ‘hallelujah’ about.” Lin Brehmer from WXRT raved that Apollo’s version of Handel’s “Messiah” is “An afternoon I will cherish long after this holiday season has come and gone.”

This year’s talented soloists include Elisabeth Marshall as soprano, J'nai Bridges as mezzo-soprano, Samuel Levine as tenor, and David Govertsen as baritone. These extremely talented and accomplished soloists have performed with some of the premiere orchestras around the world and hold residencies with some of the most distinguished arts organizations.

Following the holiday concerts, the music of the Apollo Chorus will continue in March with Britten’s Simple Symphony, Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna and Schubert’s Mass in A-flat on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at University of Chicago’s stunning Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave. The exhilarating season finale Spring Concert, International Voices, will take place Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, and Sunday, May 3 at 3:00 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. in Elmhurst.

The Apollo Chorus is Chicago’s oldest musical organization, founded in 1872 in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire, performing preeminent choral works at premier venues. Newcity raves that "Alltop's unbroken tra