Joy to the World! (or at least the greater Boston area): Boston Baroque Messiah

What's the best rehearsal you ever had? For this year I would have to nominate my first rehearsal with the strings of Boston Baroque. For two hours I got to sit and enjoy hearing them accompany our elegant soloists in Handel's classic Messiah. There is so much music in this group of some 16 violins, violas, cello and bass. They sing on their period instruments. They turn, articulate and color a phrase with astounding agility and ensemble - often without director Martin Pearlman conducting - and smiling all the way. (We noted that the entire string section is women. Coincidence?) They play together as a group has played this piece for twenty years. That's because they have: in 1992 they recorded their Grammy Nominated disc of the work and have been playing it every year ever since. Hearing the subtle turns of phrase they play together, I found my self breathing quickly and shallowly (bad for a singer). Not to sound cliché, but it literally took my breath away. Almost as surprising and every bit as refreshing, after all of their experience with this piece, there was much stopping to discuss how to bow downbeats, how to pace crescendi, how to accompany cadenzas. This is a fresh performance.

Yesterday was dress rehearsal in Jordan Hall with full forces. Winds, trumpets, tympani and the sublime chorus. With approximately 30 minutes between each of my solos I had the opportunity to listen to much of the piece as a privileged audience member. Now familiar with the capabilities of this group I was almost prepared to experience the fully realized performance. What I heard was nearly flawless and emotionally engaging, at times riveting. What surprised me was how full and rich and - dare I say - loud the Hallelujah chorus could be with so few musicians on stage.

After our first rehearsal I said to myself "they play this piece like I want to sing it." Wayne Abercrombie first taught me when I was a high school chorister that you are always singing to a moment, through a moment or away from a moment. This group wears its phrasing on it's sleeves. But these clear and bold phrases are not on the sleeves a Christmas sweater but an Armani suit: at once clear cut, beautiful, elegant, striking and subtle. I phrase with them, they watch and listen to me and phrase with me. How many orchestras can do that?! At the Da Capo in "Trumpet Shall Sound" I dusted off some ornaments I had written for my 2005 performance in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor (my first solo Messiah). Wouldn't you know, the strings and trumpet played the same ornaments! The band plays just as responsively with my colleagues Ava Pine, Julia Mintzer and Keith Jameson who are in turn fine, elegant and emotionally engaging.

This season is about bringing joy to others. This group has certainly been a joy for me and I hope we can in turn bring joy to you. I highly recommend you take a few hours (three to be exact) out of your busy holiday schedule and come to enjoy this performance. Relax, be inspired, be amazed.

For more information and tickets, visit BostonBaroque.org.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

- andy