Handel’s Messiah was composed over the course of a single month in 1741, six months before its premiere in Dublin at a new concert hall. The premiere was a triumph; the Dublin Journal proclaimed, “The sublime, the grand, and the tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestic, and moving words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished heart and ear.” Nearly 300 years later, Handel’s Messiah still evokes joy, and UMS’s presentation of the oratorio fills audiences with emotion for both the beauty of the piece and the pride of hearing friends and colleagues from the community bring this glorious work to life. Music director Scott Hanoian conducts the UMS Choral Union and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra in this annual community tradition.

Please note that the Saturday performance has been moved to 7:30 pm.