Handel's Messiah

For the past 37 years, the Messiah Choral Society has given a free performance of Handel's Messiah at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre as a gift to the Orlando community. 

Considered the most magnificent classical masterwork of all time, Handel's Messiah features the "Hallelujah Chorus" and a host of other glorious orchestrations, both choral and solo, many of which contain very familiar melodies

According to legend, Handel's valet would often find him weeping silently at his desk, overcome by the beauty and majesty of the music that he was writing.  Although conceived to be performed at Easter time, Handel's Messiah is popularly performed during the Christmas holiday season. 

The 2009 concert is the 37th consecutive annual performance and will be held Sunday, November 29 at 3 p.m.

There are no tickets.  Admission is Free.  Everyone is welcome!

History and Background

The Messiah Choral Society was established in 1973 by Bill Jarvis, a prominent music director at an Orlando church.  Jarvis formed the Society because he believed that Handel's Messiah stands by itself as an oratorio worthy of a choral group dedicated solely to its performance.  From the beginning, the purpose of the Messiah Choral Society has been to perform Handel's Messiah free to the public and open to all singers.  This tradition has continued every year since 1973, with the group marking its 35th season in 2007.  

The group's main performance is at Orlando's Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, one of the city's most prestigious venues for artistic events.  There are no tickets and there is no admission charge.  Instead, the Society raises all of the funds necessary to pay for this spectacular gift to our community, in accordance with the organization's mission since its founding.

ChristmasInOrlando.com Tips

This is a popular event, so please arrive early!  Doors open at 2:15pm.

The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre is located at 401 W. Livingston Street, adjacent to the Amway Arena in Downtown Orlando.  [Note:  Amway Arena is the former TD Waterhouse Centre] 

Directions:  (For those traveling East on I-4): Exit at Amelia Avenue and turn left at the light at the end of the exit ramp. Follow Orlando Centroplex parking signs.

The Carr Performing Arts Centre's location adjacent to Amway Arena sometimes creates parking challenges.  To determine if there is an event that may generate excessive traffic tie-ups in the area and delay your arrival at the theatre, please call Orlando Centroplex at 407-849-2000.

Parking is available for $8.00 in the CentroPlex Garage, across the street from the North side of the Carr Performing Arts Center.  There is also Valet Parking available at the Marriott Hotel across the street from the South side of the Carr Performing Arts Center

There are so many Christmas events in Orlando, you have to stay the night!  Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando's holiday headquarters hotel, features an amazing schedule of Christmas events and attractions throughout the season.  In addition, Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme parks feature family activities for Christmas that you'll remember forever. For more information, visit the Gaylord Palms website.