A Centennial Celebration: Handel's Messiah

One hundred years ago, in December, 1922, Calvary's Organist-Choirmaster Adolph Steuterman presented Handel’s Messiah in its entirety for the first time in Memphis since the late 1800s. Reportedly, 800 people attended, overflowing out into Second Street, and hundreds more were turned away. A local radio station broadcasted it live. Since then, Messiah has been performed at Calvary more than eighty times by Steuterman and his successors John Hooker, David Kienzle, John Wright, Thomas Pavlechko, and Sumner Jenkins. The Calvary Choir was often augmented with singers in the Memphis area, and they were always accompanied by orchestra.

In celebration of that tradition, the Calvary Choir is delighted to offer Messiah once again with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of MSO Music Director, Robert Moody. This free concert is generously offered to the community in loving memory of Bob Brown, sponsored by Richard Tanner.

Host or Publisher Calvary Episcopal Church Friends of Music