The holidays have arrived! And for music lovers visiting or living in New York City, that means a chance to hear, live (the way it should be heard), the most popular choral work of all time.
That work, of course, is George Frederic Handel’s mighty Messiah. Premiered in Dublin, Ireland in 1742, and first heard in New York City in 1770 (!), Handel’s oratorio typically receives at least a dozen performances, and sometimes twice that many, in New York every December. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but is instead meant to give you a sense of the range of Messiahs presented this holiday season.
If you want to stick to mainstream, traditional music venues this year, for instance, two different versions of Messiah will appear on three consecutive days at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 19, 20, and 21. (The first night is the version revised by none other than Mozart; the next two are Handel’s original score.) And just prior to the Carnegie Hall performances, the New York Philharmonic offers five performances of Messiah from Dec. 13 through 17 at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center.
Meanwhile, for those really looking to get into the spirit of the thing, Messiah can also be enjoyed in a couple of New York City’s landmark churches. In midtown, St. Thomas Church at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street offers performances on Dec. 6 and 8; last year’s concerts at St. Thomas got a flat-out rave from the New York Times, so be warned that this year’s will likely be a big draw.
Last but certainly not least, down in the Financial District, at Broadway and Wall Street, Trinity Church hosts the Trinity Choir and its accompanying orchestra in two Messiahs on Dec. 11 and 12. Remember, Trinity Church is where Messiah had its New World premiere way back in 1770, so hearing it here means you become part of a truly venerable tradition.
Are you planning a stay in New York City over the holiday season? New York Habitat has fully furnished rental apartments all over New York—so there’s sure to be one that inspires your own “Hallelujah” moment. The following samples may help you start your search.
-This furnished two-bedroom apartment rental in Manhattan’s Upper West Side (NY-15650)is located less than a block from New York’s iconic Central Park. This apartment features a private backyard enclosed with a fence, a video intercom buzzer system, beautiful hardwood floors, and modern amenities including a washer and dryer. Enjoy the spectacular nightlife and live music scene less than a block away from this superbly located apartment.
– A fully furnished one-bedroom apartment (NY-7707) in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, on the 2nd floor of a prewar walk-up, features hardwood floors in the living room and bedroom. The living room has a flat screen TV with cable along with a comfortable seating area that includes a double-sized futon couch. Outside you’ll enjoy wide variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants such as Katz’s Delicatessen, home of the city’s most revered pastrami sandwiches,
– A fully furnished one-bedroom rental apartment in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood(NY-9846) is located on the fourth floor of a walk-up brownstone building , not far from BAM and Fort Greene Park. The living room features a round dining table with two chairs, A/C, two windows, two couches, and a coffee table, and inside the bedroom you’ll find a queen-sized bed (sheets are provided), nightstand, TV, and another window.
Do you have a favorite memory of hearing Handel in New York that you’d like to share with New York Habitat readers, or a recommendation for the best performance to catch? Feel free to add your thoughts in the field provided below.
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