Gracias El Mesías

Fans of Handel’s Messiah were prepared for a fun dual language perspective of the beloved oratorio when Santa Barbara Choral Society performed at Trinity Lutheran Church with a full 21-piece orchestra in both English and Spanish.

The new dual language version of Handel’s classic included a new arrangement from the Bach Collegium San Diego conducted by veteran maestro JoAnne Wasserman.

Founder and artistic director Ruben Valenzuela presented El Mesías in 2020 to rapturous audiences in San Diego and Tijuana, describing the iconic work as “belonging to the people, not just a frozen artifact kept under glass.”

The choir presented all of Part I, and selections from Parts II and III wonderfully sung by soprano Christina Bristow, mezzo soprano Christina Pezzarossi, tenor JJ Lopez, and bass Colin Ramsey.

A quite glorious Palm Sunday show…