Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church lights up Naperville with Handel’s Messiah
“I should be sorry if I have only succeeded in entertaining them; I wished to make them better,” said George Frideric Handel after the first performance of his oratorio Messiah in London. This masterpiece has been performed around the globe for almost three hundred years already, and the composer’s wish has been realized. Messiah brings glory to people’s hearts and does make them better. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Naperville, one of the most recognizable cultural and spiritual spots in Naperville, invites everyone to its annual Christmas concert that will highlight this epic masterpiece. Handel’s Messiah and Carol Sing-a-long concert will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 15 at the spectacular Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville.
“This concert is going to be more amazing than any concert we have ever done,” noted Maestro Matthew S. Sprinkle, Director of Sacred Music at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. “The Messiah concert became a Naperville tradition. As far as we know, we are the only place that is doing Messiah this Christmas in the Naperville area.”
This annual tradition to perform Christmas portion of Messiah became a trademark for the Concerts at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Its repertoire changes and varies, but Messiah is an established and immutable piece that is proudly performed by Saints Peter and Paul Orchestra and Choir. Since 2013, this epic oratorio has been attracting Naperville residents and people from other Chicago suburbs to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Their expectations of this performance have been always satisfied – Saints Peter and Paul Orchestra and Choir along with the brilliant soloists find the best way to present this composition and to touch everyone’s heart.
This time, though, Concerts at Saints Peter and Paul want to present a surprise for their listeners. The Choir of Saint Raphael Church of Naperville will join Saints Peter and Paul Orchestra, Choir and soloists and will add even more colors to the palette of this masterpiece. Together, they will demonstrate all the beauty of Messiah and show their joint effort in presenting its spiritual depth.
“Combining of the two choirs, both choirs are excellent choirs alone, will certainly make a stronger impact on the audience,” said Mr. Sprinkle. Maestro Sprinkle is an important figure at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He puts all his soul and heart into conducting various programs that feature several vocal ensembles and an orchestra, serves as principal organist and oversees Concerts at Saints Peter and Paul. He will lead the choirs and orchestra in this breathtaking performance of Handel’s epic masterpiece.
The Choir of Saint Raphael Church, which is located on Modaff Road in Naperville, has existed for fifty four years since the beginning of that parish. The church plays a big role in the community as it is home for over four thousand and three hundred registered households that find their connection with God at this church. The Choir of Saint Raphael Church contributes greatly to the life of this church by bringing the beauty of music to its services and activities. Co-Directors of Music and Liturgy at Saint Raphael Church, Julie and Robert Frazier, were eager to partner with Maestro Sprinkle in organizing and holding the Messiah and Carol Sing-a-long concert and are proud to present twenty five of their talented singers at this concert. The Choir of Saint Raphael Church will be singing all pieces of this program together with Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Totally, over seventy musicians will be involved in this performance.
“The St. Raphael Choir is pleased to join with the Saints Peter and Paul Chorus and Orchestra once again to perform great sacred music. Last year it was a thrill for us to jointly perform “The Creation” by Haydn, and now we are eager for this opportunity to perform Handel's masterpiece, The Messiah. Our choirs enjoy singing together and making beautiful music with this fine orchestra. It will be a glorious evening of beautiful music that will certainly prepare us and inspire us to celebrate the coming of the Messiah, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” said Director of Music and Liturgy at Saint Raphael Church Robert Frazier.
Maestro Sprinkle carefully selected soloists for this performance to make sure that their voices fit this great composition and bring an uplifting message to it. This concert will feature such talented and recognized soloists as JoEllyn Caulfield, Soprano; Brynn Bixby, Alto; Christina Bernardoni, Mezzo-Soprano; Justin Miller, Tenor; and Joe Arco, Bass. Their voices will complement the voices of the united choirs and the sounds of the orchestra. Together, the musicians will present a beautiful ensemble.
When the Christmas portion of Messiah will be over, the musicians will invite the audience to participate in the performance. The second part of the concert will bring Christmas carols in their traditional arrangement, which will make it easy to sing-a-long for the audience. Personal participation in the music-performing process is always fun and exciting, and regular attendees of the Concerts at Saints Peter and Paul know that.
The Carol Sing-a-long will include such favorites as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by the great hymn-writer Charles Wesley, “O Come All Ye Faithful” attributed to John Francis Wade, “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” arranged by Thomas Fielding, “In the Bleak Midwinter” based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti, and, of course, “Silent Night” composed by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and arranged by Leo Nestor.
Besides that, in the second part of the concert the audience will be pleased to hear touching choral favorites that will be performed only by the choirs. “We will present only the most desired composers of choral music of the twentieth and twenty first centuries,” said Maestro Sprinkle. Among them, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen, “Rorate Caeli” by Leo Nestor, “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" by Paul Manz, “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, and “Once in Royal David’s City” originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. “Carol of the Bells” by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych and lyrics by Peter Wilhousky will make that night even more colorful.
Join Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, its wonderful musicians and the Choir of Saint Raphael Church of Naperville as they herald the story of Christ’s birth! Tickets go fast; buying them now would cost you $5 less per ticket. VIP tickets include reserved seating in the front section of the church and give you the best experience. Don’t miss your chance to attend the only performance of Handel’s Messiah in Naperville and let it spark your holiday season! Here you can take a peek and watch Saints Peter and Paul Orchestra and Choir perform Messiah:
For tickets and information, please call 630-718-2119 or go to https://www.sspeterandpaul.net/ You can also purchase your tickets at the church office located at 36 N. Ellsworth Street in Naperville.
Natalia Dagenhart