Columbus Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah at Ohio Theatre

The stellar Columbus Symphony has cemented themselves as one of the nation’s finest ensembles. Their extraordinary talent, passion, dedication, and commitment are second to none. The orchestra has been professional since the late 1970s and currently employs as many as 90 of the world’s best musicians.

Conductor and musical director Rossen Milanov is highly regarded as a conductor, and is widely known for his versatility, dazzling performances, and producing an unparalleled calibre of music. The Columbus Symphony Chorus is directed by Stephen Caracciolo.

George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah is without a doubt one of the world’s most beloved masterpieces. The work is rather unusual - instead of drawing from one Testament of the Bible, Messiah draws on both the Old and New Testaments and has no dramatic action, named characters, or direct speech; it is rather a retelling of the earthly life of Christ through a clever collage of Bible verses, compiled for Handel by Charles Jennens.

Handel composed the Messiah for a modest ensemble of voices and instruments within only 24 days, and premiered in Dublin in 1742 with an audience of only 700. The performance was a massive success, and Handel revisited the work often. His last attendance of a performance of the Messiah was 8 days before his death, and the tradition of annual performances continued, upheld during the entire 283 years of its existence.

The Messiah comprises three parts, corresponding to the Nativity, Passion, and Resurrection.

Part One touches on ‘God’s Promise’ – the happy news, the fearful challenge this news might represent to the world, the birth of the Child, and finally, a message of joy and comfort. Part Two is a stark contrast to Part One: The Lamb of God is suffering and the world becomes aware that it can only be saved by divine intervention. It reflects on the Passion, anticipates the Resurrection, and celebrates the final defeat of the forces of evil. Part Three comprises the conquest of Death by Life, expressed through an individual’s confession of faith.

The historic charm of the Ohio Theatre, rich legacy, and unique architecture, together with the incredible beauty of Handel’s Messiah, guarantees a break-taking evening at the symphony. The venue boasts 2,791 seats spread across four levels, with plenty of options suitable to your preferences and budget.