In his day, George Frideric Handel was the most popular composer in Europe producing music for the British court, the Christian church and various charitable causes. Today, Handel’s oratorio Messiah with its “Hallelujah Chorus” ranks near the top of every listener’s favorite music list. The La Cañada Presbyterian Church Choir and LCPC Orchestra will present a concert of Handel favorites, plus a few novelties, on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 626 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada.

“Three Faces of Handel” will include music from Handel’s Messiah, Water Music and two anthems: “Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline” and “Foundling Hospital Anthem.” The LCPC Orchestra will perform Suites 1 and 2 from Handel’s Water Music, written for summer barge parties on London’s Thames River. In a salute to the members of the LCPC congregation who have passed away in recent years, the choir and orchestra will present Handel’s “Funeral Anthem for Queen Charlotte” and excerpts from Messiah that provide assurance of hope in eternity.

The second half of the program features one of Handel’s last works, his Foundling Hospital Anthem written to bring attention to the poor and needy orphans of his day. Consistent with Handel’s intent, the concert will include a short presentation of “Restoring Hope,” one of the LCPC Outreach Ministries, dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in South Asia, one child at a time.

The choir and orchestra totals nearly one hundred musicians featuring soloists Tamara Bevard and Jessica Berns, soprano, Matthew Thomas, tenor and Michal Dawson Connor, bass. Prior to the concert, at 1:30 p.m., LCPC’s director of Music & Worship Arts, Jack Lantz, will present a pre-concert talk on “Three Faces of Handel” and how his charitable work influenced Handel’s music.

The concert is free; however, a freewill offering will be received for the “Restoring Hope” outreach ministry to orphans in South Asia. 

La Cañada Presbyterian Church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd. For those who cannot attend in-person, the concert and pre-concert lecture will be live-streamed. Use the following link to watch online: live.lacanadapc.org.