The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert this year was excellent. Guest vocalist Brian Stokes Mitchell and actor Edward Herrmann brought a meaningful, and genuine, sincerity and spirit to the concert. I’ve attended each concert since Mack became a choral director (1998) and this ranks as my 2nd favorite (I think it will be nearly impossible to fill the pure and clear soprano shoes of Sissel).This year the choir performed two selections from Handel’s Messiah (“And the glory of the Lord” and “Hallelujah”). Of course, during the Hallelujah chorus the audience silently stood and reverently absorbed the stellar performance. Mack made a few edits to the choral parts and, as I was copying from his manuscript, I noticed an excerpt taped to the first page of the Hallelujah chorus:
“It is reported that during one of the early London performances, as the first notes of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus rang out, King George II spontaneously rose to his feet in a spirit of exaltation. Audiences have traditionally repeated this practice ever since.”
As we stood there I felt an overwhelming reverence and true joy for the majesty of Handel’s music, for the spirit in which it was composed, and especially for him who inspired the work.
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