Christmas with FCS: Messiah and More

Tickets: Adults $25 in advance/$35 at the door · Students $20 in advance or at the door · Children 13 and under free

The program opens with two fresh treatments of familiar Advent and Christmas music: Taylor Scott Davis’s arrangement of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and Dan Forrest’s Angels We Have Heard on High. Then, joined by the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, the Symphonic Chorus turns to a tradition that has earned its place. Handel wrote Messiah in roughly three weeks in 1741 and premiered it in Dublin the following spring as a benefit for the city’s charities. Nearly three centuries later, it is still how a great many people know Christmas has arrived. We will perform Part I complete—from Comfort ye through His yoke is easy—and conclude with the Hallelujah Chorus from Part II. Join us in Annandale or Alexandria as we open the season of joy and wonder together.

This Annandale performance takes place Saturday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m. at Annandale United Methodist Church. The companion Alexandria performance takes place Sunday, December 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Schlesinger Concert Hall. View the Alexandria performance details.