Do-It-Yourself Messiah, A Reminiscence
I read news that WFMT, Chicago's classical music radio station, was going to discontinue its Do-It-Yourself Messiah, an event they had been presenting since 1976. During one holiday season many years ago Donna and her friend Nancy Sivak were members of the amateur chorus. I asked Nancy to share her memories of that special time: "40- ish years ago…memories of…The Do It Yourself Messiah …with this qualifier: i do not bet my life on all of these details from decades ago… that said, here goes. Orchestra Hall is what being in a church should feel like…for the diym (do-it-yourself Messiah), only the soloists are paid … orchestra members are volunteers who have played together- never before…… the orchestra rehearses only three times, prior to the night of performance …. > 2,500 singers, of widely ranging talent, training, experience…. The common / golden thread through all of the event is love of Handel’s Messiah…this chicago diym was directed by the goddess, Margaret ...