Handel Rocks!
Tonight was the first of two performances of the “Do-It-Yourself” Messiah at Chicago’s Lyric Opera. There is something unbelievably democratic about 100+ volunteer musicians, a handful of world-class soloists, and 3000+ regular guys (and gals) like me slipping and sliding through more sixteenth notes than you could hope to count. They say Handel wrote the thing in 22 days. I’m not sure I could recopy it in that many days without mechanical support.
This was my first time experiencing this 28-year tradition, but hopefully not my last. I’d like to get the tutorial CD next year and be a little more ready to do my part. But ready or not, it’s hard to overstate the joy of making music or anything else in concert with several thousand others. I just giggled after every chorus.
You still have time to get to Friday’s performance. I’m told there are usually free tickets at the door, turned in by those who’ve found themselves with extras. Best to arrive by 6:00pm or so.