HANDEL’S MESSIAH in Guatemala City and La Antigua

This year marks the 12th consecutive presentation of Handel’s Messiah in Guatemala, presented by Betty Whitbeck, executive producer, and the Community Choir of Guatemala.

The first performance will be Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Theater in Guatemala City. Tickets are Q300 for platea, Q125 for Balcon l and Q60 for Balcón II.

The performance moves to La Antigua Guatemala on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Casa Santo Domingo. Tickets are Q400 and Q250. Tickets are available in Antigua at Joyería del Angel and Casa Santo Domingo for the Antigua concert, and through Todo Ticket for the National Theater performance.

For the first time since The Messiah has been presented in Guatemala, the conductor of the orchestra will be the acclaimed conductor Dr. Jonathan Griffith. Dr. Griffith has conducted orchestras all over North America, Europe and Asia.

In North America he has conducted in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Disney Hall. He is the director of Distinguished Concerts International of New York.

The soloists will be Liz Cass, mezzosoprano; Julia Taylor, soprano; Philip Hill, baritone—all associated with the Austin Opera and University of Texas—and Sam Lowry, tenor, associated with the Sarasota Opera Guild in Florida.

Special guest will be Ana Rosa Orozco, soprano from Guatemala. The music director will be Herber Morales, and the choir will have 95 voices.

Dr. Griffith will conduct the Handel portion of the concert, and Morales will conduct the encore portion.

Proceeds from the performances will benefit the work of the Rotary Club of Vista Hermosa projects in the Lake Atitlán area and the Comité de Becas Mary Sue, which has scholarship students in Centro Educativo Anunciata in Chichicastenango and in Colegio Benito Juarez in Guatemala City.