I love it when I can catch Handel's Messiah and I was able to see it again in Newport News. It was the second time (for me) at the Primera Iglesia Bautista First Baptist church in Newport News. This year I took a friend from work - from my flying work. It's nice to take someone who appreciates it and hadn't seen it.
Every orchestra and conductor try to put their spin on the Messiah - which is expected - and the outcome is hit or miss. I would give this show about an 8 (out of 10). It was good, but the soloists were a bit bland. Definitely one, maybe two of the four showed some enthusiasm. The Messiah solos can be tough to begin with so any flare by the soloists is appreciated. The other thing (for me) which brought it to an eight (Messiah starts with a 10) was the trumpets. A bit undersold and when they did play, well, a bit too "flarey". Too much flare. For me, the trumpets in the Messiah should be, "I am here, I am a trumpet, you will hear me without question". The trumpets in the 2018 show were more "I am a Christina Aguilera trumpet". Personally, I don't want to hear a warbling trumpet. I want to hear one that owns the moment. Regardless, if you can ever see the Messiah...GO see it!
- mm -
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