For the past eight seasons without interruption, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra has performed Handel's "Messiah," but the piece's history with the orchestra goes back much further.
The TSO has played the Christmas portion of the oratorio - it covers the biblical story of Christ, from birth to his death on a cross and resurrection - at its holiday concerts every year since at least the early 1990s.
"It's such a great piece, and it's always fun to come back to," said Bruce Chamberlain, who will conduct the TSO concerts next weekend.
There's been talk over the years of nixing "Messiah" from the TSO schedule, but its demise never made it past the discussion phase. That's a testament to the music's appeal. Or perhaps it's more a case of tradition: When something has been done that regularly, it becomes tradition, and traditions are not so easily discarded.
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The TSO's "Messiah" has become even more anticipated since the orchestra formed its own chorus to fill the enormous vocal role. The TSO Chorus made its debut in "Messiah" in 2003 and has performed it with grace and integrity, and to thunderous applause, every year since.
"The music is inspired, but what really transcends the appeal across a wide base of music listeners is the fact the libretto is so good," said Chamberlain, who leads the TSO chorus and directs choral activities at the University of Arizona School of Music.
"It's all biblical text," he said, "and it is pieced together so brilliantly that it just transcends all the religions. To put it together with the wonderful music of Handel is why people keep coming back to it."
