The combined choirs of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe will give two candlelit performances of Handel’s Messiah on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 pm. The superb oratorio will be directed by the church’s musical director Stephen Candow. Once again the concert will feature outstanding soloists and the Ottawa Baroque Consort.

Mr. Candow is particularly thrilled that the acclaimed counter-tenor Mark Donnelly, who began singing in St. Matthew’s boys’ choir at the tender age of six, will come from Vancouver especially for this performance. By age 13, Mr. Donnelly had already made two solo CD recordings of works by Bach and Handel with orchestra. Also an oboist, he was a member of the Ontario Youth Choir, the National Youth Choir and the World Youth Choir. He is a keen sportsman and has competed in the 2008 Argus Cycle Race and the Two Oceans Marathon.

He has performed as a counter-tenor in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. Earlier this year he sang in Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion in Cape Town, South Africa, and gave a moving performance at St. Matthew’s in the Purcell’s anniversary concert by Seventeen Voyces.

The Messiah will also feature soprano Kathryn Domoney, a former member of the Canadian Opera Company; tenor Dillon Parmer, who is  known for his sensitive interpretation of early music; and versatile young baritone Benjamin Covey.

This oratorio is a centrepiece of the St. Matthew’s choirs’ repertoire and a delightful start to the Christmas season.

Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, 7.30 p.m. Tickets for the concerts may be purchased at the church office, Compact Music (190 Bank St. & 785 ½ Bank St.), CD Warehouse (1383 Clyde Ave.)  Reserved seating is $35 for Adults and $25 for students, unreserved seating: Adults $25, Students $15. A premium of $5 will be charged for tickets purchased at the door.

Download the Messiah Concert poster here.