Stan Engebretson, chorale artistic director and conductor
December 17 & 18, 2022 – The Music Center at Strathmore
December 23, 2022 – Capital One Hall

PROGRAM

Messiah                     George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

PART I

Sinfonia
Recitative (tenor)            Comfort ye, my people, saith your God
Aria (tenor)                       Every valley shall be exalted
Chorus                             And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
Recitative (bass)             Thus saith the Lord of Hosts
Aria (bass)                       But who may abide the day of His coming?
Chorus                             And He shall purify the sons of Levi
Recitative (mezzo)          Behold, a virgin shall conceive
Aria (mezzo)                    O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Chorus                              O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, arise
Recitative (bass)             For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
Aria (bass)                       The people that walked in darkness
Chorus                              For unto us a child is born
Pastoral Symphony
Recitative (soprano)       There were shepherds abiding in the field
Recitative (soprano)        And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them
Recitative (soprano)        And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for behold
Chorus                              Glory to God in the highest
Aria (soprano)                  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
Recitative (mezzo)          Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened
Aria (mezzo and soprano)    He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
Chorus                                His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light

INTERMISSION

PART II

Chorus                                    Behold the lamb of God
Aria (mezzo)                           He was despised and rejected of men
Chorus                                    Surely He hath borne our griefs
Chorus
Chorus                              All we like sheep have gone astray
Recitative (tenor)                   All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn
Chorus                                    He trusted in God that He would deliver Him
Recitative (tenor)                  Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
Aria (tenor)                             Behold and see if there be any sorrow
Recitative (tenor)                   He was cut off out of the land of the living
Aria (tenor)                             But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
Aria (bass)                              Why do the nations so furiously rage together
Chorus                                     Let us break their bonds asunder
Recitative (tenor)                    He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn
Aria (tenor)                             Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron
Chorus                                     Hallelujah!

PART III

Aria (soprano)                         I know that my redeemer liveth
Chorus                                     Since by man came death
Recitative (bass)                     Behold, I tell you a mystery
Aria (bass)                               The trumpet shall sound
Chorus                                     Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Chorus                                     Amen

NatPhil is grateful for the generosity of the sponsors below for this evening’s performance:

Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA)
Ruppert Nurseries
Just Ice Tea

NatPhil is honored to partner with the historic Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac, Maryland for performances of Handel's Messiah at Strathmore.

This season, 50 percent of the proceeds from performances at Strathmore will be donated to the Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church 2nd Century Project.

The church has been a center of community for Black congregants since 1924, but its structure was nearly destroyed and left unusable by a flood in 2019. To save its rich legacy, the church and its Montgomery County allies have launched a multi-phase project to repair, restore, and safeguard the building. Information about the 2nd Century Project can be found at scotlandamezion.org.