AUBURN — The Augusta Symphony Orchestra will present its 10th annual “Messiah” singalong on Friday, Dec. 14, at High Street Congregational Church.

Handel’s “Messiah” was completed in 1741, with composition beginning on Aug. 22 of that year and finishing a mere 24 days later on Sept. 14. Despite its swift creation, only minor errors were found within the 259-page masterpiece.

Described as “a meditation of our Lord as Messiah in Christian thought and belief,” “Messiah” differs from many of Handel’s other oratorios in that the soloists do not take on dramatic roles. There is no single, dominant narrative voice and very little use is made of quoted speech.

According to New York Times music critic Allan Kozzinn, “The music itself provides enough theatricality of its own, offering “a model marriage of music and text … From the gentle falling melody assigned to the opening words (“Comfort ye”) to the sheer ebullience of the “Hallelujah” chorus and the ornate celebratory counterpoint that supports the closing ‘Amen,’ hardly a line of text goes by that Handel does not amplify.” 

Featured soloists are David Greenham, Elizabeth Helitzer, Teresa Henderson and James O’Brien.

The performance will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults/children and students free. The concert will be repeated on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Hope Baptist Church in Manchester.

On March 16, the ASO will present a concert at Cumston Hall in Monmouth, featuring a performance of “Peter and the Wolf” with guest performer MPBN Music Director and morning host Suzanne Nance. 

For more information about the ASO, visit www.asomaine.org or email [email protected].