More ideas on how to celebrate the holidays in New York: Distinguished Concerts International (DCINY), now in its fifth season, will usher in the holiday season at Lincoln Center on Sunday, November 25 at 2:00pm with Sir Thomas Beecham/Sir Eugene Goossens's 1959 re-orchestration for full symphony orchestra of Handel's Messiah.
Called a “radical rescoring” by the New York Times, the re-orchestration features a full symphony orchestra and mass chorus, filling the concert hall with the gloriously festive sounds of the beloved holiday masterpiece. Featured soloists include soprano Penelope Shumate, contralto Doris Brunatti, tenor Jorge Garza, and bass Liam Moran. DCINY's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Jonathan Griffith, leads the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concert Singers International.
In 1959, Sir Thomas Beecham, founder and music director of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), commissioned Sir Eugene Goossens to orchestrate Messiah for the full-forces of a modern symphony orchestra. After completing the commission, the new Goossens orchestration was performed live at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland and recorded by the RPO. Soon afterwards, however, the score and parts were "lost" and no other live performances of the work were presented in Europe or in the United States. The RCA Red Label recording reportedly remains one of the top ten most popular Messiah recordings of all time.
Dr. Jonathan Griffith conducted the United States premiere of Goossens’s reorchestration in April 2000 at Carnegie Hall. Goossens's "epic" and "romantic" take on Handel's masterpiece features a full complement of woodwinds, brasses, double basses, harps, and percussion. Selections from the iconic oratorio include the famous ‘Hallelujah' chorus, ‘Worthy is the Lamb', and of course, the concluding ‘Amen'.
Tickets are available at www.lincolncenter.org.