|
Christmas Performances
By Becky Castle
The 82nd all-Lutheran presentation of Handel's "Messiah" will be
held on Dec. 7 and 8 at First Lutheran Church (13th and South Utica)
at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. nightly. Admission is free.
In 1921, Sarah Ruby Kaufman, wife of the pastor of First Lutheran
Church, suggested to their choir that they present the Christmas
portion of the "Messiah." At that time, no congregation or musical
organization in Tulsa had attempted this challenging music. With
determination, the small choir of First Lutheran began a tradition
that has continued to the present.
Originally their accompaniment was limited to the small reed organ
Kaufman pumped with her feet as she directed the soloists and choir.
From the beginning the directors wanted the participants to be aware
they were participating in a worship service, not merely a form
of entertainment. Costumes depicting the year of the Nativity were
and still are employed to better dramatize the narrative. In addition
to the pageantry created by the soloists and chorus, colored slides
were projected onto a screen enabling the worshiper to visualize
the characters and circumstances of the Biblical text.
In 1953 First Lutheran Church was temporarily without a church home
and had to find a new place to present the "Messiah." Grace Lutheran
Church invited them to hold the service in their sanctuary. That
year marked the first time the choirs of Grace and First joined
together in the presentation of the Christmas special.
First Lutheran had their new church ready for Christmas of 1954
and extended an invitation to all Lutheran congregations in Tulsa
to join them in this Christmas message. In 1991 Leon Boggs assumed
direction of the "Messiah." The reed organ has now given way to
a modern electric organ. The colored slides purchased in 1921 are
still in use today.
This year 150 participants from 14 area Lutheran churches will join
in the orchestra and chorus.
Christmas classics at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center:
For more information about either performance, call (918) 596-2525
or go to www. tulsapac.com.
"A Christmas Carol" will be performed Dec. 5-7, 10-14, 17-21 and
23 at 8 p.m. Tickets to this Christmas classic are $24.
"The Nutcracker" ballet will be presented Dec. 13-15, 18-22 at 7
p.m. and Dec. 14-15, 21-22 at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from
$16 for the balcony to $48 for the Golden Circle.
"The Nutty Nutcracker," a comical rendition of the ballet, will
be performed one time only, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are the same
prices as for "The Nutcracker."
|
){kind=link}