Handel's Messiah - Parts II and III - 1998
Michael Roy says: "This astonishing performance was the premier presentation of Handel's Messiah in South Florida during my life and career, and that includes the University of Miami choral ensembles, "Messiah Sing-ins" and community choirs, local resident church choirs, and anything else choral."
This was a professional concert both chorally and instrumentally and the proof is in the listening: the choir is flawless in its baroque oratorio interpretation, flexibility on melismas, command of range, and display of the full array of the choral arts. The soloists were the finest in South Florida.
A string and brass ensemble was in place: two violins, viola, cello, double bass, and two trumpets. Portative organ and harpsichord are also in the accompaniment.
RCC's chamber choir is featured, and two professional basses were added to the resident chorale. As was always the case in RCC concerts, the resident women needed no added professionals . Soloists were Katie Burdick, soprano; Rebekah Spence, mezzo soprano; Patricia Pluto, alto; John Flynt, tenor; and Patrick Matthews, bass-baritone. The other professional bass baritone, Paul Perkins, in town with the Miami Grand Opera, said this was the finest production of the oratorio he had ever heard or participated in. This is choral excellence unto God, who created the music of the spheres so that humankind might sing praises to the Lord while on earth below.
All scripture quotes are from the KJV. The oratorio lyrics, by Charles Jennings, are closely based on these scriptures.
Chorus: Behold, the Lamb of God
...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29b
Air: He Was Despised - Patricia Pluto, alto
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isa. 53:3; 50:6
Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows... he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him,..
Isa. 53:4a; 53:5a
Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
.., and with his stripes we are healed. Isa. 53:5b
Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:6
Recit: All They That See Him Laugh Him to Scorn - John Flynt, tenor
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Chorus: He Trusted in God
He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Psa. 22:7, 8
Recit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Air: Behold, and See If There Be Any Sorrow - John Flynt, tenor
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. ...behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow... Isa. 69:20; Lam. 1:12b
Recit: He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living
Air: But Thou Didst Not leave His Soul in Hell - John Flynt, tenor
...he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Isa. 53:8b; Psa.16:10
Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Psa. 24: 7-10
Air: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage Together - Pattrick Mattews, bass-baritone
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed,.. Psa. 2: 1, 2
Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder -
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. Psa. 2:3
Recit: He That Dwelleth in Heaven; Air: Thou Shalt Break Them - John Flynt, tenor
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psa. 2:4
Chorus: Hallelujah! -
Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Rev. 19:6; The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord; and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Rev. 11:15b;
King of kings, and Lord of lords. Rev. 19:16b
Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth - Katie Burdick, soprano
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:25,26; But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. I Cor. 15:20
Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Cor. 15: 21, 22
Recit: Behold, I Show You a Mystery;
Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound - Pattrick Matthews, bass-baritone
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Cor. 15: 51, 52
Recit: Then Shall Be brought to Pass;
Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? - Rebekah Spence, mezzo soprano; John Flynt, tenor
Chorus: But Thanks be to God
...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
I Cor. 15:54b; O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. I Cor. 15: 55, 56;
Chorus: Worthy Is the Lamb
...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing...Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 5:12, 13b; 22:21b