A solution to bankruptcy: when the London public tired of his Italian operas, George Frederic Handel’s opera company went bankrupt. How was he to make his living? A wealthy friend, Charles Jennens, persuaded Handel to try a different genre — the oratorio. Together they created masterworks which today, more than 250 years later, still draw audiences. In these two sessions, we will explore several Handel oratorios and learn why his most beloved one, Messiah, remains so popular. Class members who own or can obtain a score are invited to bring it and sing along.

Registration deadline: Nov. 27