Bella Voce presents Handel’s Messiah

Name: Bella Voce presents Handel’s Messiah
Start: 2025-11-23T16:00:00-06:00
Location: St. Luke's Episcopal Church Evanston

Schedule

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025 at 04:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

St. Luke's Episcopal Church Evanston | Evanston, IL

Bella Voce presents Handel’s Messiah
An unabridged and historically informed interpretation
performed on period instruments
by the Bella Voce Sinfonia, Bella Voce Chorus,
and soloists from within the ensemble.
Handel’s Messiah, complete and unabridged, has been a Bella Voce annual tradition since 2012. Artistic Director Andrew Lewis’s rendition features a 24-voice chamber chorus, soloists, and the 20-player period-instrument Bella Voce Sinfonia, in an intimate interpretation of Messiah akin to what would have been heard in Handel’s lifetime.
Saturday, November 22: Milwaukee, 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 23: Evanston, 4 p.m.
Milwaukee performance to be broadcast by PBS
Bella Voce’s acclaimed interpretation of Messiah returns with performances in Milwaukee Nov. 22 and Evanston Nov. 23. The Milwaukee performance will be recorded for broadcast on PBS. This marks the first time Bella Voce has performed in Milwaukee.
Bella Voce’s acclaimed interpretation of Messiah returns with performances in Milwaukee Nov. 22 and Evanston Nov. 23. The Milwaukee performance will be recorded for broadcast on PBS. This marks the first time Bella Voce has performed in Milwaukee.
“Bella Voce is honored to present Milwaukee’s first complete period-instrument performance at the invitation of the esteemed organization Early Music Now,” says Lewis. Early Music Now is one of the top early music presenters in the United States, entering its 39th season of performances of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque programs by the world’s most accomplished ensembles.

With its nimbly sized orchestra and chorus, Bella Voce has put its virtuosic stamp on this canonic work. Chicago Classical Review praises Lewis’s interpretation, which “strikes a deft balance between the semi-theatrical provenance of the work and the reverential nature of the work.…tempi throughout were brisk and vigorous, but still moderate enough to elevate details…bringing clarity to the score.” The Bella Voce Chorus has been commended by CCR for its “precise intonation and blend” as well as its “sound overflowing with passion.” The Bella Voce Sinfonia is noted as “dutiful companions of the chorus and as feature performers in their own right,” showcased through their “spirited playing and rich timbres.”

Soloists for the concerts include Chicago singers Orna Arania, Anna Joy Buegel, Oliver Camacho, Mark Haddad, Kimberly Jones, Amanda Koopman, Luke Lemmeier, Eric Miranda, Annie Rasmussen, Matthew Schlesinger, Ryan Townsend Strand, Josefien Stopelenburg, and Vince Wallace. Violinist Martin Davids (Haymarket Opera Company, The Callipygian Players) returns as soloist and concertmaster of the Bella Voce Sinfonia, with Josh Cohen (Washington Bach Consort, Seraphic Fire) also a featured soloist on Baroque natural trumpet.
Bella Voce presents Handel’s Messiah
Saturday, November 22 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Chapel
1515 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee
Sunday, November 23 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
939 Hinman Ave., Evanston