"Messiah" Always in Season

Though originally performed at Easter, Handel's "Messiah" has also become a Christmas favorite as well.
   It is never out of season, even in Cincinnati, where as far as the Cincinnati Symphony and May Festival Chorus are concerned, that season is almost always in May.
   The CSO brings Handel's towering work into the cold months, just in time for Christmas, at 7:30 p.m. December 17, 8 p.m. December 19 and 3 p.m. December 20 at Music Hall.
   Conducting will be one of the world's foremost interpreters of 18th-century music, Nicholas McGegan.  Soloists with the May Festival Chorus will be soprano Dominique Labelle, mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson, tenor Norman Shankle and bass Christopheren Nomura.
   McGegan will the discuss the music with CSO assistant conductor Ken Lam at 7 p.m. December 19 in the Music Hall auditorium.
   The December 17, early evening concert has been shortened to two hours, plus intermission.  The repeats December 19 and 20 will be complete.
   Tickets are $10-$83.50, $10 for children 18 and under, $12 for students, 25 percent-off for seniors 62 and over.  Call (513) 381-3300, or order online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
   The December 17 concert will be preceded by a complimentary buffet dinner, beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Music Hall Ballroom.
   The CSO's new Saturday night "Critic's Club" dinners catered by The Phoenix debut at 6:30 p.m. December 19 in the Critic's Club at Music Hall.  Cost is $35, including tax and gratuity.  Cash bar is available.  For reservations call (513) 721-8901 by 9 a.m. on Friday before the concert.