OCC’s Chamber Singers Perform New Spanish Edition of Handel’s Messiah

OCC Marketing & Public Relations
Nov 21, 2023
  • News Release
a group of singers on stage

Orange Coast College’s Chamber Singers will perform El Mesías, a new Spanish-language edition of Georg Frideric Handel’s famous Messiah, on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre.   

Originally an Easter offering, Messiah has been a fixture of the holiday season for nearly 275 years and is arguably the most beloved oratorio in the English language. Thanks to a new Spanish edition created by San Diego musician Ruben Valenzuela, Messiah, or El Mesías, it will be performed entirely in Spanish with a full orchestra featuring student and alumni soloists.  

Eliza Rubenstein, OCC choral director and conductor, selected El Mesías to acquaint OCC’s musicians with one of the seminal works of the classical repertoire while bridging cultures and communities. 

“Ruben Valenzuela created this new edition specifically to reinforce the universality of this timeless music, and our community is the perfect audience for it,” says Rubenstein. “We are thrilled to be among the very first ensembles in the world to perform this work in its new version, and whether you’ve known and loved Messiah for decades or you’re experiencing it for the first time, we are confident you’ll enjoy this concert.”

This concert is underwritten through generous support from the OCC Foundation.  

Tickets are on sale for $10 at the OCC Tickets website. Parking is free and available in Lot C.