Camerata Chicago is bringing Handel's Messiah to three western suburbs this month, pairing Part I of the beloved oratorio with the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus and the coronation anthem Zadok the Priest. The orchestra and chorus plan to perform the Hallelujah Chorus twice during each concert, with the second pass turned into an audience sing-along.
According to the orchestra's own event page, the program will feature Messiah, Part I — Christmas, alongside the Hallelujah Chorus and Zadok the Priest, as detailed by Camerata Chicago. The orchestra describes the sing-along moment directly on its site: “We'll perform it twice – the second time giving you the opportunity to join in.” The performances are scheduled for Nov. 20 in Oak Park, Nov. 21 in Wheaton and Nov. 22 in Hinsdale, according to Shaw Local, which reports the Oak Park show takes place at the Nineteenth Century Club on Forest Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Wheaton performance happens at Gary United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Saturday, and the Hinsdale concert follows at 3 p.m. Sunday at Union Church of Hinsdale.
A One-Hour, Family-Friendly Program in Hinsdale
The Hinsdale stop is independently confirmed on the host venue's own listing, which places the Nov. 22 concert at 137 S. Garfield St. and bills it as a family-friendly performance lasting approximately one hour, per Union Church of Hinsdale. That same listing provides discounted ticket pricing for the Hinsdale date: $42.50 for adults, $34 for seniors, $8.50 for students and $1.70 for children 14 and under after discount.
Shaw Local's reporting lists separate standard single-ticket prices across the run — $50 for adults, $40 for seniors 65 and over, $10 for students and $2 for children 14 and under, with VIP tickets at $75. An online code reportedly provides a 15% discount, and ticket information is available at cameratachicago.org and by phone at 312-799-0916, the outlet notes.
Zadok the Priest Opens the Program
Zadok the Priest opens each concert as an anthem for orchestra and chorus, Shaw Local reports, with text drawn from the biblical account of Zadok anointing King Solomon. Handel originally composed the piece for the coronation of England's King George II, according to the same report, and it has since become one of his most recognizable choral works.
Handel's Messiah itself includes Part I — traditionally known as the Christmas section — along with the Hallelujah Chorus from Part II, Shaw Local notes. The structure gives audiences a compact but complete arc, moving from Zadok's anointing imagery through the Nativity narrative of Messiah's opening section before building to the chorus's communal climax.
Soloists and a New Concertmaster
Four soloists are set to perform across the three dates: countertenor Key'Mon Murrah, who will sing the soprano part, mezzo-soprano Camille Robles, bass-baritone Laureano Quant and tenor Daniel Espinal, according to Camerata Chicago's event page. Shaw Local separately identifies the tenor as Daniel Luis Espinal in its coverage of the lineup.
Eric Gratz is guest concertmaster for Camerata Chicago's 2026–2027 season, Shaw Local reports. Shaw Local describes Camerata Chicago as a 40-piece modern-instrument ensemble founded in 2003 by British-born violinist Drostan Hall, and notes the group has performed at venues including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Chicago Cultural Center. A news release cited by Shaw Local characterizes the orchestra as one of America's finest chamber orchestras.
