“A joyful screen adaptation of Handel’s holiday staple” – Globe and Mail
Against the Grain Theatre’s interpretation of Handel’s Messiah is a cross-Canada masterpiece: presented in seventy-eight minutes, performed in Arabic, Dene, English, French, Inuktitut, and Southern Tutchone, and accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. It features twelve soloists and four choirs representing every province and territory across the country.
Messiah/Complex has captured audiences from more than forty countries worldwide: receiving thousands of messages from international fans expressing gratitude for such a diverse and inspiring work, and sharing personal connections to Handel’s Messiah. The film has been praised by major international media outlets including, the New York Times, BBC Radio, and the Globe and Mail.
Release Date: December 8th, 2021
“This deserves to become a holiday classic”
– Los Angeles Times
Download the Album
Each download supports Against the Grain Theatre and the artists of Messiah/Complex.
**Album artwork features a photo of Looee Arreak by Mark Aspland**
Tracks
| ① No. 1- Sinfonia | 3:02 |
| ② No. 2 – Comfort ye my people
③ No. 3 – Ev’ry valley shall be exalted |
2:42
3:23 |
| ④ No. 5 – Thus saith the Lord
⑤ No. 6 – But who May Abide the day of His coming |
1:26
4:43 |
| ⑥ No. 7 – And He Shall Purify (chorus) | 2:39 |
| ⑦ No. 9 – Utʼawkwadįchʼe yesį chʼe yan nań käy (O thou that tellest good tidings – Sung in Southern Tutchone) | 5:55 |
| ⑧ No. 12 – For Unto Us A Child is Born (chorus) | 4:11 |
| ⑨ No. 13 – Pifa (‘Pastoral Symphony’) | 1:03 |
| ⑩ No. 18 – Rejoice Greatly, o daughter of Zion | 5:50 |
| ⑪ No. 20 – He shall feed his flock (Sung in Inuktitut and English) (duet) | 4:48 |
| ⑫ No. 23 – Elle fut méprisée (She was Despised – Sung in French) | 4:08 |
| ⑬No. 38 – Kuvianattuksovut itigangit (How Beautiful Are the Feet – Sung in Inuttitut) | 2:27 |
| ⑭ No. 40 – Why do the nations so furiously rage together? | 2:50 |
| ⑮No. 44 – Hallelujah (chorus) | 3:47 |
| ⑯No. 45 – Senewetsıne, godı́ ǫt’e bek’eoreshǫ (I know that My Redeemer Liveth – Sung in Dene) | 5:45 |
| ⑰No. 47 – Behold, I tell you a mystery | 0:31 |
| ⑱No. 48 – The trumpet shall sound | 4:03 |
| ⑲ No. 52 – إِنْ كَانَ اللهُ مَعَنَا فَمَنْ عَلَيْنَا (If God be for us – Sung in Arabic) | 5:32 |
| ⑳ No. 53 – Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain (chorus) | 7:11 |
Gallery
Credits
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Film Directors: Joel Ivany and Reneltta Arluk
Conductor: Johannes Debus
SOLOISTS
Andrea Lett
CHOIRS
— Jeff Joudrey, conductor
—Monique Richard, conductor
—Simon Rivard, associate conductor
University of Prince Edward Island Chamber Singers
—Sung-Ha Shin-Bouey, conductor
RECORDING PERSONNEL
Produced by Against the Grain Records
Sound Engineering: Doug Doctor, Recording on the Go, Number 9 Audio Group, Isaac Williams, Matthew Lien, Whispering Willows Records, Xavier Richard, Grant Trippel, Exchange District Studios, Edmontone Studio, Nuvu Music & Sound, Stephen Lilly, Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Music, Jeff Wolpert, Diva Sound Records, Jeremy VanSlyke
Sound Producing: Brigitte Lavoie (Le Choeur Louisbourg)
Sound mix and master: Doug Doctor
Original Photography: Mark Aspland
Cover Art Design: Daevyd Pepper
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
AtG Board of Directors, Alistair Hepburn, Amanda Hadi, Amil Ivany, Anna Katjar, Ashna Thaya, Charles Northcott, Claudine Domingue, Corey Arnold, David Dredla, Daevyd Pepper, Dawn Cattapan, Eamon Mac Mahon, Jesse Koehnen, Jonelle Sills, Jonathan Kirby, Joshua Knelman, Julie Nagam, Kathleen Stevenson, Katie Sejba, Kendra Miller, Koerner Hall, Kristen Kitcher, Linda Santiago, Loie Fallis, Madison Angus, Marcel d’Entremont, Matthew Loden, Michael Barker, Midori Marsh, Moona Syed, Rebecca Sharp, Renee Fajardo, Sally Szuster, Sammy Ivany, Taylor Long
Recorded at Recording on the Go (Berlin, DE), Number 9 Audio Group (Toronto, ON), Whispering Willows Records, Exchange District Studios, Edmontone Studio (Edmonton, AB), Nuvu Music & Sound, Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Music, Diva Sound Records (Yellowknife, NWT)
© 2021 Against the Grain Records
℗ 2021 Against the Grain Records
ORCHESTRA
First Violins:
Jonathan Crow (Concertmaster)
Etsuko Kimura (Assistant Concertmaster)
Atis Bankas
Virginia Chen Wells
Second Violins:
Wendy Rose (Associate Principal)
Sergei Nikonov
Clare Semes
Angelique Toews
Violas:
Victor Fournelle-Blain (Principal)
Rémi Pelletier (Associate Principal)
Christopher Redfield
Mary Carol Nugent
Cellos:
Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron (Associate Principal)
Marie Gélinas
Roberta Janzen
Double Basses:
Jeffrey Beecher (Principal)
Paul Rogers
Oboes
Sarah Jeffrey (Principal)
Hugo Lee
Bassoon:
Michael Sweeney (Principal)
Trumpets
Andrew McCandless (Principal)
James Gardiner
Timpani
Joseph Kelly
Portative Organ/Harpsichord
Talisa Blackman (Guest Artist)
Principal Librarian
Gary Corrin
Orchestra Personnel Manager
David Kent
Assistant to the Conductor
Derek Bate