SOCIAL SCENE: Timeless beauty
Ocala Symphony and Chorus perform Handel’s ‘Messiah.’
Michel Northsea, left, and Linda and Philip Rickman pose together during the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
In observance of the 250th anniversary of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah” in 2009, “Smithsonian Magazine” offered some history behind the beloved composition.
“Messiah” was originally an Easter offering and debuted on April 13, 1742. The men and women in attendance sat mesmerized from the moment the tenor followed the mournful string overture with his piercing opening line: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Soloists alternated with wave upon wave of chorus, the article noted.
“Now, of course, ‘Messiah’ is a fixture of the Christmas season. Woe to the concert hall in the United States or Britain that fails to schedule the piece around the holiday… For many amateur choirs, the work is the heart of their repertoire and the high point of the year,” the author stated.
On Nov. 23, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Chorus delivered their heart-touching rendition of the time-honored work, featuring highlights from “For Unto Us a Child Is Born” to the triumphant “Hallelujah” chorus. The program at the Reilly Arts Center included Bach’s “Mein Jesu, was vor Seelenweh” in Leopold Stokowski’s lush arrangement.
Matthew Wardell is the conductor of the OSO; Joshua Mazur is the chorus director and assistant conductor. Natalie McComb is executive director of the center.
“This performance was such a powerful and timeless way to welcome the holiday season. We were delighted to see so many members of our local community come together to experience this beloved tradition. The interplay between the choir and orchestra was spot on, making ‘Messiah’ feel fresh, exciting and deeply meaningful,” McComb said.
To learn about upcoming holiday performances and more, go to reillyartscenter.com
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