Handel's Messiah returning to Brownsville

WHAT: Handel's "Messiah"

WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

WHERE: Jacob Brown Auditorium

600 International Blvd.

Brownsville, Texas 78520

ADMISSION: free

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Amy Brownlow at 882-7387

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Handel's "Messiah" has returned.

After a four-year absence from the city, the local art community will present the piece Dec. 14 at Jacob Brown Auditorium at University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College campus, said Amy Brownlow, director and vocal coordinator of the Bravo Opera Company. The company, plus the Arts and Entertainment Series at the UTB-TSC, are two of the many groups and individuals collaborating to bring the event back to Brownsville.

"I am the one that came up with the idea of bringing back the Messiah," Brownlow said. "I did so because of the many people who contacted me to find out what happened to this tradition and how much they missed it."

Brownlow said that the 18th-century oratorio by George Frederick Handel had been produced every year since 1957 by various groups, including the Brownsville Independent School District and UTB-TSC, but it was discontinued after the 2004 season. Brownlow, who had performed as the soprano soloist in several local productions of the piece, was unable to perform that last season because she was pregnant with her daughter, who was born the following January.

"I remember they had to have two people sing my part," she said jokingly. "After that they stopped doing it. I don't know what happened."

Brownlow said that last year she spoke to George Ramirez, who is president of the Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts, and another major player in bringing back the production. "I said, ‘I am really sad Messiah has died. Many people have asked me about it.'"

She asked Ramirez then, "How can we bring it back? What can we do to come up with the money?" They've been working on a revival of the Messiah ever since.

They and other individuals and organization will see the result of their combined efforts on Dec. 14. That's when almost 250 people, including the chorus and the orchestra, will perform the piece that is set to music the prophecy of Jesus Christ and his life.

"It's a wonderful experience," said Dennis Pitcock, head of choral department BISD. Students from local high schools will perform the piece along with singers from UTB-TSC and the rest of the community.

"This is a master work," he said. "It's one that even people who aren't trained musicians can appreciate, mostly because it's associated with the Christmas season."

Pitcock said the piece is composed of two parts.

"The first is the Christmas season part because it addresses that he's coming," he said. "The second part deals with his life and death. I am really excited. This is my third time, and I am especially excited about conducting this year's piece because Mrs. Brownlow picked my daughter, Megan, to be a soloist." Pitcock's daughter is 20 years old.

Art Brownlow, Amy Brownlow's husband, hired the orchestra. He conveyed satisfaction with the production's progress.

"Everything's ready to go," said Art Brownlow, who is in the music department at UTB-TSC.

"Several players are from our faculty here at UTB. We have some players from the Valley Symphony Orchestra."

Art Brownlow said the orchestra will only practice once before the event. They don't have to practice any more than that because orchestra musicians by mid-career have already performed Messiah between 20 and 50 times.

"It's the most performed classical piece in the history of the world," he said. "It's not a piece that you need to rehearse a lot. The music is just outstanding. It has withstood the test of time."