The Thirteen: Handel | 'Messiah'

Due to its ubiquity, Handel's Messiah is a piece that we all think we know. And yet, at each return, the work still surprises through the overwhelming power and beauty of its music and the Christmas story.

 The Thirteen performs all three parts of Messiah—including the iconic "Hallelujah Chorus"—telling the greatest story ever told in song. Featuring our orchestra of the nation's finest period instrumentalists and our exquisite choir, whose members—center-stage soloists all—will sing Messiah's iconic solos and duets, "this music, can seem to stop time when performed like this" (Washington Classical Review).

About The Thirteen

"Exquisite in every way" (Gramophone), The Thirteen is a professional choir and orchestra celebrated for re-imagining the potential of vocal music from many periods. Praised for performing with "striking color and richness" that "transfigures the listener" (The Washington Post) and "a tight and attractive vocal blend and excellent choral discipline" (American Record Guide), for over a decade the ensemble has been at the forefront of invigorating performances of masterworks ranging from early chant to world premieres and the centuries in between.

The Thirteen's discography includes a new recording of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610; the world premiere recording of Scott Ordway's opera The Outer Edge of Youth; Truth and Fable, which premiered in October 2019 and was pre-nominated for a Grammy award; the critically-acclaimed Christmas album Snow on Snow; and RADIANT DARK, which reached #28 on the iTunes Classical Charts.