The New Jersey Symphony bring ‘holiday heroics’ in the 2025 rendition of Handel’s Messiah
Anthony Parnther joined the New Jersey Symphony to conduct three riveting performances of Handel’s beloved holiday classic at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, which also featured soloists Caitlin Gotimer, Maria Dominique Lopez, Orson Van Gay II and Shyheim Selvan Hinnant along with the Montclair State University Singers. James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media gave his review of the Sunday performance at the Cathedral.
Handel’s “Messiah” is more than just a piece of classical music, it’s a tradition — as well as a box-office sensation. The packed pews at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart holding 1,337 concertgoers gathered to hear the New Jersey Symphony perform the famous oratorio on Sunday night made that quite clear. (Near-capacity crowds for two performances in Princeton earlier this weekend provided even further evidence.)
James C. Taylor of NJ Advance Media
» Read the full review from NJ Advance Media
He was not the only one that gave the performance a solid review. Nancy Plum of Town Topics would review the December 19 performance in Princeton.
To many, the holiday season is not complete without a Messiah concert, and led by guest conductor Anthony Parnther, New Jersey Symphony presented a concise and flexible version of Handel’s work.
Nancy Plum of Town Topics
» Read the full review from Town Topics
Ralph Malachowski of PhillyGayCalendar also reviewed that night’s performance.
The four soloists acquitted themselves admirably, while the Montclair singers literally burst with energy in their spirited performance. They made a lasting impression. The rather small contingent of male singers more than made up for the fact. Forceful, yet often plangent, singing highlighted by clear diction and manly enunciation thrilled the audience throughout. ... Anthony Parnther conducted robustly, and the New Jersey Symphony musicians were stellar. That trumpet truly sounded.
Ralph Malachowski of PhillyGayCalendar