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Mennonite Mass Choir proves no Messiah performance is ever ‘ordinary‘ n a world of uncertainty Iand change there are still some â€" things, â€" besides death or taxes, of which we can be sure. One is that Handel‘s Messiah will be presented enough times over the Christmas season that nearâ€" ly everyone in the civilized world could be theoretically within reach of a "live one." Another perennial cerâ€" tainty about the bestâ€"loved religious oratorio in human history, is that by far the majority of those perforâ€" mances will be populated by amateurs â€" folks who sing simply because they love it. The nearlyâ€"annual Mennonite â€" Mass Choir, hosted by the local Menno Singers, has been offering vocal amateurs and their audiences this peak experiâ€" ence for more than two decades now. As last weekâ€" end‘s two Centre in the Square presentations proved â€" to some 3,000 ticketâ€"buy â€" ers â€" Handel‘s hastily, but cleverly scored 1742 masterâ€" piece hasn‘t lost an jota of its magnetic appeal. On Saturday the nearly full theatre, with well over By Pavuine Fixck For The Chronicle 250 on stage, including a > chamberâ€"sized _ Kâ€"W Symphony, rang to the familiar strains of grand, evocative arias and choruses under the baton of Menno Singers conductor Peter Nikiforuk. And there was no mistaking what people came to hear and applaud â€" something big, resonant and dramatic. They went home fully satisfied on all counts, but got a good deal extra besides. Whether aware of it or not (and veteran listeners simply had to be}, Nikiforuk focused on refining those nuances one isn‘t supposed to expect from large, tempoâ€" For the most part, he got what he asked for â€" clear dicâ€" tion (English need not sound like a foreign lanâ€" guage); rhythmic and uniâ€" fied _ themes; _ enough dynamic variety to tell the musical story; consistently good pitch, even in unacâ€" companied stretches; and some electrifying passageâ€" work in which all sections negotiated the same potenâ€" tial traps with practised ease. rary, choirs. Christmas Hours Some of the best choral work happened after interâ€" mission when wise directors evEery Saturday, "% from now until 10:00AM TO «:00rM WEsTMOUNT PLACE Westmount Road ‘-\ At Erb Street, Waterloo convenience nonâ€"professional santa ds here for your shopping Mmss + untif christmias are concerned about vocal fatigue creeping in to take the edge off precision and blend. Yet this particular ensem:â€" ble seemed to hit its best stride in the demanding set of three consecutive chorusâ€" es that set the tone of Part II â€" Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs, And With His Stripes We Are Healed (the one IBM has been using as soundâ€" track for a new computer commercial) and All We Like Sheep. Here and elsewhere, when Nikiforuk chose slightâ€" ty slower tempos, the reward was greater substance and presence. Needless to say, there were a few slight lapses {that‘s news??) that aren‘t cause for much shame; no one‘s perfect. The tenors emitted a few collectively anguished sounds and there were one or two spots where sopranos sounded slightly unready and lost a fractional amount of pitch. It wasn‘t enough (shouldâ€" n‘t have been) for anyone to feel even a moment of regret. And who really cares how "tight" _ the _ Hallelujah Chorus was anyway? So much energy is expended everywhere on this planet in PHOTOS FOR ONLY $3.00 standing and sitting down again for the darned thing â€" not out of respect for God, by the way, but because a Party Favours for everyone Dancing after 10:00 pm in Martini‘s and del Dente Reservations 893â€"6570 Featuring 4 or 5 course Menus $40 to °83 per person Also serving: Christmas Eve Brunch and Dinner Buffet Boxing Day Brunch and Dinner Buffet New Years Day Brunch and Dinner Buffet (Plus taxes, gratuity and beverage) FZPetals & POLS inc. _Flower & Gift Shop Gary Miller ___________ _ oemm n RCLCaminav nEREIAER WATERLOO LOCATION OPEN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 MA RTINTS CHRISTMAS BUNCHES Perfect for the Perfect Hostess CHRISTMAS CENTRE PIECES a festive touch for any holiday occasion 95 â€"*30â€" 35 ana up 22 _i s 725 Ottawa St. S Waterioo: 65 University Ave. E. 1 & n sar en Call 885â€"2180