The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Artists of Baltimore Symphonic Chorale are presenting their annual performances of Handel’s Messiah December 2-4, with concerts at both the Meyerhoff and Strathmore. Maestro Edward Polochick has conducted Messiah with the BSO since 1982, and I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of singing it with him many times since the late 1990’s. Recently, we got together to chat about his interpretation of the piece, finding clues to what Handel wanted in a “skeletal” score composed in just under three weeks, and great news regarding a collaboration with Naxos Records.
Here’s an extended version of the interview Maestro Polochick and I recorded for broadcast:
And here’s a more in-depth conversation about Maestro’s concept of the work, its evolution over the decades, the “tricks” we singers do to achieve certain sounds, and the chorus he loves to hate – or does he?
