HALLELUJAH The Plymouth-based Pilgrim Festival Chorus presents its annual “Messiah Sing” and carol singalong concert this week. Popular for 40 years, the shows inviting the audience to sing along on the choruses of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio are an essential part of the Christmas season for many.
Chorus director William Richter leads the audience in both carols and the familiar choruses from part one of Handel’s masterpiece, concluding with the popular Hallelujah Chorus.
“Part one of Handel’s iconic Messiah contains some of the most wonderful solos and choruses of the entire season,” Richter said recently. “For this reason we have a tradition in Plymouth of presenting an audience participation performance with local soloists and organ.”
Elizabeth Chapman Reilly provides the accompaniment on the church’s recently refurbished Roche pipe organ.
This year, Richter said, the chorus is planning a new dimension to the singalong. “We’ll take some of those carols out onto the street in Plymouth after the concert to spread the good news of the holidays,” he said.
“Celebrate! Messiah and Carol Singalong” at Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, Plymouth, Friday 7:30 p.m.; $10, scores available to borrow.
