# First performance of Messiah tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038 "2004-12-10T00:19:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/1 "2004-12-10T00:19:49Z")
After several weeks’ practice, we start our annual round of \*Messiah \* concerts tonight in the Opera House. It will be a very busy period, with performances tonight, tomorrow night, Sunday afternoon and the following Thursday night. Ticket sales are progressing nicely, so we could be looking at four full houses. Then the choir gets a well-earned summer break until we start practising in February for the first concert of our 2005 season. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/2 "2004-12-10T00:27:40Z")
“Three things in life are certain: Death, taxes, and playing second violin in the Messiah.” (Apocryphal. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/3 "2004-12-10T11:23:10Z")
Well, we’ve had our first performance, and it wasn’t one of our better efforts, I’m afraid. A whole series of events conspired against us. The usual pre-Christmas Friday night traffic was exacerbated by heavy rain and various police emergencies. As a result, at 7.00pm, our scheduled starting time, we were missing at least 20% of the choir and orchestra, as well as the soprano soloist. The start was delayed until about 7.30pm, but the audience was still dwindling in at 8.00pm, and that was quite offputting. Then, just as we were getting up a head of steam, a baby started to cry somewhere in the audience. Goodness only knows how the ushers allowed the woman to come in with a baby! Anyway, she had to get out from the very middle of the auditorium, causing another distraction. The performance never really picked up after that. We’re all hoping that tomorrow night’s will be a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/4 "2004-12-10T11:46:22Z")
Is this the full _Messiah_, or just Part I + Hallelujah Chorus? ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/5 "2004-12-10T15:13:42Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > “Three things in life are certain: Death, taxes, and playing second violin in the Messiah.” Not for me! I’m playing second violin in “the Nutcracker”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/6 "2004-12-10T19:03:14Z")
> [@av8rmike](#): > > Not for me! I’m playing second violin in “the Nutcracker”. 😛 And I’ve somehow gotten roped into playing the organ for a school carol concert - haven’t been near any manuals since last century… :smack: … ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/7 "2004-12-10T22:22:15Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > “Three things in life are certain: Death, taxes, and playing second violin in the Messiah.” > > (Apocryphal. 😉 ) Hey, some of that stuff ain’t easy. I have yet to hear a good playing of “Oh, Thou that Tellest” and “Rejoice Greatly”. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/8 "2004-12-11T23:00:44Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Is this the full _Messiah_, or just Part I + Hallelujah Chorus? The full _Messiah_, naturally. I’ve never heard of anyone in Australia doing just Part I plus the \*Hallelujah \* chorus. Last night’s (Saturday’s) performance was fantastic - one of the best I’ve ever done. From the first downbeat the energy and intensity was there. Absolutely 10 out of 10. Now to see whether we can scale such glorious heights again in this afternoon’s matinée. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/9 "2004-12-11T23:04:10Z")
> [@Jpeg Jones](#): > > Hey, some of that stuff ain’t easy. I have yet to hear a good playing of “Oh, Thou that Tellest” and “Rejoice Greatly”. Filling out a tax return isn’t a piece of cake, either - but is it a challenge you relish? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/10 "2004-12-11T23:25:43Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > The full _Messiah_, naturally. I’ve never heard of anyone in Australia doing just Part I plus the \*Hallelujah \* chorus. It’s standard Yuletide fare in the the US, alas. Do people stand up for the Hallelujah Chorus in Australia too? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/11 "2004-12-12T00:30:23Z")
This thread is better suited for [**Cafe Society**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=13). I’ll move it for you. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB Break a leg! ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/12 "2004-12-12T01:35:03Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] The full _Messiah_, naturally. I’ve never heard of anyone in Australia doing just Part I plus the \*Hallelujah \* chorus. Over here in the States _Messiah_ is usually divided into separate performances at the nonprofessional (i.e., community/school/church chorus) level. Part I and the “Hallelujah” are usually performed during the Christmas season. Part II (minus the Hallelujah in some instances) is performed during Easter. Very rarely will you hear said chorus groups performing _Messiah_ in its entirety. I haven’t sung anything _Messiah_ for a number of years. Back when I did in university/community/church choruses, it was the highlight of the year. Handel’s my most favorite composer 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/13 "2004-12-12T14:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I haven’t sung anything Messiah for a number of years. You got old, you could no longer Handel the high notes. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/14 "2004-12-12T20:26:52Z")
Argh! Bad pun! The full _Messiah_ does go on for a while, which your average US audience doesn’t particularly want to sit through. [Tangential anecdote] I was at a party last weekend in which the hosts and most of the guests were professional or reasonably competent amateur musicians, and the hostess had invited people to bring their instruments and perform. I had forgotten to bring any music but around 10pm (and after several beers) was browbeaten into giving an impromptu performance of “For who may abide/For He is like a refiner’s fire”. Which, to my great surprise, I nailed, probably more helped than hindered by the alcohol. The similarly tipsy accompanist, likewise browbeaten, had a much worse time of it. The Brahms lieder at 2am were a hit too. 🆒 [/TA] ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/15 "2004-12-12T21:30:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s standard Yuletide fare in the the US, alas. > > Do people stand up for the Hallelujah Chorus in Australia too? It’s a pity that American choirs tend to sing only a truncated version of _Messiah_. Most of the best music is in parts 2 and 3. And yes, in Australia the audience always stands for the Hallelujah chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/16 "2004-12-13T21:22:14Z")
Here’s the [review](http://www.smh.com.au/news/Review/Messiah-Sydney-Philharmonic-Choirs/2004/12/13/1102787009718.html#) from this morning’s \*SMH \* of last Friday’s first \*Messiah \* performance. It’s pretty fair, I think. The reviewer certainly sensed how unsettled we all were after the chaotic start to the evening. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-performance-of-messiah-tonight/279038/17 "2004-12-13T23:58:22Z")
Last week was our annual Messiah Sing-a-long, which we attend faithfully (that is, if we’re not traveling for the holidays). Terrific fun (though I made the mistake of going in cold, without even a CD run-through to kickstart the memory banks).