Northwest Wayne News

The City Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is partnering with Rackham Choir and Ralco Industries to nurture a new generation of classical music lovers with the choir’s 20th anniversary performance of “Too Hot To Handel,” the jazz-soul-R&B-gospel reinterpretation of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” at the Detroit Opera House.

The community events begin with a free panel discussion “Mighty Sounds: The Legacy of Detroit’s Jazz and Gospel” on January 7 moderated by the City’s Director of Arts and Culture Rochelle Riley. It features: jazz critic Mark Stryker, author of Jazz from Detroit; Deborah Smith Pollard, professor emerita at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and co-host: "Sunday Morning Inspiration," MIX 92.3 FM, and Too Hot To Handel pianist Alvin Waddles. The discussion is at 3 p.m. on January 7 at Marygrove Theatre, 8425 W McNichols Rd. The event is free, but guests must RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/422s2msc

The events continue with a Student Dress Rehearsal that will give hundreds of students from Detroit and surrounding counties a day at the famed Detroit Opera House to watch the dress rehearsal for “Too Hot To Handel,” the exuberant, uplifting, jazz-gospel take on Handel’s masterpiece originally conceived by Marin Alsop and arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson.

Students across the region have been invited to the Student Dress Rehearsal at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 12, where their schools will get a curriculum guide, “Affirming Our Identities Through Music.” The guide explores the Black experience through the lens of the various genres included in Too Hot To Handel and the perspectives of some of the principal performers as people of color (POC) in the world of classical music.  The choir has underwritten ticket prices and transportation allowing more students to have access to this experience. The choir is seeking additional support to bus more interested students to the event.  Anyone who’d like to contribute toward student attendance should visit

https://rackhamchoir.org/donate/   

The Handel performance itself begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Detroit Opera House. It features an all-star roster of fiery soloists Rodrick Dixon, tenor; Alfreda Burke, soprano; and Karen Marie Richardson, mezzo-soprano as well as celebrated Detroit musicians Marion Hayden, bass; Alvin Waddles, piano; Dave Taylor, drums all under the baton of Maestra Suzanne Mallare Acton. 

Founded in 1949, Rackham is the oldest community choir in Detroit. The January performance marks the first staging of the jazz-gospel favorite after a four-year absence from the Detroit stage. The choir first presented “Too Hot To Handel” in 2000.

This year’s 20th Anniversary Production will be presented during the weekend before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to extend the holiday season, when the work has typically been performed in the past.

“The music and its message represent a cross cultural musical celebration that builds community,” said Emily Eichenhorn, President of Rackham Choir. “We believe a January performance of this spectacular classic would be an ideal way to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”  

“Too Hot To Handel” incorporates several scriptural messages of faith, hope and inclusion that echo Dr. King’s words of hope for peace, justice, and equality. Many of the passages are among those Dr. King utilized to share his vision and inspiration, expressed through jazz-gospel and classical musical styles. 

Riley said that Detroit ACE is proud to partner on every effort to introduce and re-introduce Detroit children and audiences to all forms of music since Detroit is one of the world’s music capitals.

“Detroit is going to be too hot to handle soon, so this is one of many partnerships ACE looks forward to as we move into 2024,” she said.

Tickets for the Saturday, January 13 show are available at the Detroit Opera Box Office, detroitopera.org/season-schedule/too-hot-to-handel  or by searching “Too Hot To Handel” at detroitopera.org and (313) 237-7464. Group Discounts are available for Saturday night.  

Rackham choir is offering $10 student tickets for the Friday, January 12 Student Dress Rehearsal. Scholarships are available. For student reservations, contact Detroit Opera House Group Sales groupsales@detroitopera.org and (313) 309-8251 or Rackham Choir at administration@rackhamchoir.org.

Rackham Choir is supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kresge Foundation. Too Hot To Handel is presented by Platinum Sponsor Ralco Industries and is supported by The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

Original source can be found here.