Orange Coast College’s Chamber Singers will perform El Mesías, a new Spanish-language edition of Georg Frideric Handel’s famous Messiah, on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre at OCC.
Originally an Easter offering, Messiah has been a fixture of the holiday season for nearly 275 years, and is arguably the most beloved oratorio in the English language. Now, thanks to a new Spanish edition created by San Diego musician Ruben Valenzuela, Messiah, or El Mesías, will be performed entirely in Spanish with a full orchestra plus student and alumni soloists.
Eliza Rubenstein, OCC choral director and conductor, selected El Mesías as a way to acquaint OCC’s musicians with one of the seminal works of the classical repertoire while also bridging cultures and communities.
“Ruben Valenzuela created this new edition specifically for the purpose of reinforcing the universality of this timeless music,” Rubenstein said. “Our community is the perfect audience for it. We are thrilled to be among the very first ensembles in the world to perform this work in its new version, and whether you’ve known and loved Messiah for decades or you’re experiencing it for the first time, we are confident you’ll enjoy this concert.”
“I feel like our community is our intended audience,” added Rubenstein. “The work has not officially been published but it was made available to us. This will be the third performance of El Mesias in the world, and the first at a community college. I have conducted the piece in English, and the translation fits like a glove.”
If you need more incentive to attend, OCC is partnering with Handel’s ice cream and will be selling ice cream sandwiches after the performance.
This concert is underwritten through generous support from the OCC Foundation. Tickets are on sale for $10 at the door or on OCC Tickets website at https://occtickets.universitytickets.com/.
The Robert B. Moore Theatre is at 2547 Fairview Rd. in Costa Mesa. Parking is free and available in Lot C next to the theatre.
