Out & About: Saint Vincent College presents Handel’s ‘Messiah’

Shirley McMarlin | Monday, December 9, 2019 12:01 a.m.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Dr. Andrew Jeffers (left) of Bedford joins his parents, Sylvia and David Jeffers of Scottdale, during the reception Saturday prior to the performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” held at the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

It’s customary to stand for the “Hallelujah Chorus,” which concludes George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.”

Conventional wisdom says that Great Britain’s King George II stood in awe during the 1743 London premiere of the work. And when the king stands, everybody stands.

Though the chorus is only 4 to 5 minutes long, the entire work runs between 2½ and 3 hours, so it’s good to have some sustenance before attending a performance.

Perhaps that’s why Saint Vincent College offered a reception prior to a Dec. 7 presentation of the glorious oratorio written for Easter but now a fixture of the Christmas season.

Seen fortifying themselves in the Fred Rogers Center, prior to moving to Saint Vincent Basilica, were college President Rev. Paul Taylor, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, Chuck and Nancy Anderson, John Stevens, Myra Mamo, John and Margaret Gavaler, Father Campion, Father Max, Tadeusz and Anna Kozminski, Diane Sobota, Tom Sarp, David and Sylvia Jeffers, Dr. Andrew Jeffers, Sam and Diane Flannagan and Marty and Linda Kuzmkowski.

Handel’s masterwork was performed by the Saint Vincent College Singers and Festival Choir under the direction of Thomas Octave.