Messiah performers in slices of art

New York’s Favorite “Messiah” Returns to Trinity Church Wall Street December 9-10

NEW YORK, NY, December 2, 2022 - After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Trinity Church Wall Street will once again host two performances of Handel’s Messiah this holiday season on December 9 and 10. It has been 250 years since Trinity first hosted one of the earliest American performances of Messiah, and today its interpretation of the oratorio has been hailed by The New York Times as “the best Messiah in New York.”

In a season full of Messiah concerts, Trinity’s is unique as it is performed in a historic sacred space, on period instruments, with soloists from the choir chosen to best complement each aria and recitative. This year’s performance will feature The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra with renowned conductor Andrew Megill at the helm. Maestro Megill is recognized as one of the leading choral conductors of his generation. He was recently named Chorus Director for Music of the Baroque and leads three of North America’s finest vocal ensembles: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Fuma Sacre, and the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale.

Trinity and Messiah have a long history. Trinity presented one of the first performances in North America in 1770, and Trinity’s ensembles are widely regarded as some of the greatest interpreters of the work. For over 20 years, Trinity has performed this work without standard soloists. This tradition has not only set Trinity’s Messiah apart from others but celebrates the strength of Trinity’s musical community as each solo is tailored to the unique voices that make up the renowned GRAMMY-nominated choir.

Tickets are now sold out, but a free livestream will be available at trinitywallstreet.org both nights. In addition, the December 9 performance of Messiah will be broadcast live on WQXR, and the December 10 performance will be streamed live on Trinity’s Facebook page. Viewers may tune in from anywhere in the world by going to Trinity’s homepage or Facebook page at the start of the concert, 7pm Eastern.

Other upcoming music events during the Christmas season include two special Compline by Candlelight services. The first, “Advent Lessons and Carols,” at St. Paul’s Chapel on Sunday, December 4, is a cherished holiday tradition. Through readings and musical illuminations this service tells the story of God’s love and hope for all of creation, culminating in the birth of the babe lying in a manger in Bethlehem. Lessons and Carols will be conducted by Stephen Sands, Thomas McCargar, and Melissa Attebury and feature Downtown Voices, St. Paul’s Chapel Choir, and the Trinity Youth Chorus.

The second Compline, “Ceremony of Carols,” is December 18.  This beloved annual tradition will be under the direction of Melissa Attebury and featuring harpist Jacqueline Kerrod, and the Trinity Youth Chorus, presenting Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. This masterpiece juxtaposes ancient and modern sounds as Renaissance texts and plainchant intersect with Britten’s sonorous and colorful writing in a stunning choral work for treble voices.

For those who love Handel’s Messiah but missed out on the December 9-10 ticketed performances, on December 11 Trinity is presenting “Holiday Favorites” with popular choruses from Messiah presented alongside Christmas carols and other festive songs in a special concert. The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Choirs join this epic holiday performance that features all of Trinity’s ensembles, the Trinity Youth Chorus, Downtown Voices, St. Paul’s Chapel Choir, The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and NOVUS NY.

Trinity is also announcing a special concert featuring The Choir of Trinity Wall Street on December 4 at Carnegie Hall. Notes from Ukraine: A 100 Year Celebration of Carol of the Bells is presented by the Ukrainian Institute - Kyiv, Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, and Razom for Ukraine. This concert will celebrate 100 years since the North American premiere of Mykola Leontovych’s Shchedryk—the original choral work that became the famous “Carol of the Bells.” Led by renowned conductor Daniela Candillari, the performance will highlight works and performers from both Ukraine and the U.S., including a world premiere by Trevor Weston, showing the power of music to connect people across cultures.

About Music at Trinity Church Wall Street:
Trinity Church Wall Street’s groundbreaking music program – “the top of musical life in New York” (The New York Times) – has changed the landscape of performing arts in New York City, re-envisioning the impact arts organizations can have, with its peerless ensembles, uniquely broad range of expertise from early to new music performance, long tradition of championing underrepresented composers, and extensive and growing discography.

About Trinity Church Wall Street:
Trinity Church Wall Street is a growing and inclusive Episcopal parish of more than 1,200 members. For more than three centuries, Trinity has been a part of the fabric of New York City-weaving together a vibrant and diverse parish of people of all backgrounds from the five boroughs and surrounding area. The parish is guided by its core values: faith, integrity, inclusiveness, compassion, social justice, and stewardship. These principles are the reason Trinity champions justice and equity through public advocacy, neighborhood outreach, and financial resources. More than 20 worship services are offered every week online and at its historic sanctuaries, Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel, the cornerstones of the parish’s community life, worship, and mission, and online at trinitywallstreet.org.

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December 4, 2pm at Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium, Perelman Stage)
Notes from Ukraine: A 100-Year Celebration of Carol of the Bells

Works by Lunyov, Shalygin, Bernstein, and others
World Premiere by Trevor Weston
Janai Brugger; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America; Ukrainian Children's Choir Shchedryk; Daniela Candillari, conductor

December 4, 8pm at St Paul’s Chapel
Special Compline by Candlelight: Lessons and Carols

Downtown Voices; St. Paul’s Chapel Choir; Trinity Youth Chorus

December 9-10, 7pm in Trinity Church
Handel’s Messiah

The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Trinity Baroque Orchestra; Andrew Megill, conductor

December 11, 3pm in Trinity Church
Holiday Favorites

Trinity Youth Chorus; Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Choirs; Downtown Voices; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; St. Paul’s Chapel Choir; Trinity Baroque Orchestra; NOVUS NY; Melissa Attebury, Eugenia Oi Yan Yau, Stephen Sands, Avi Stein, and Thomas McCargar, conductors

December 18, 8pm at St Paul’s Chapel
Special Compline by Candlelight: Britten Ceremony of Carols

Trinity Youth Chorus; Melissa Attebury, conductor