On Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 9:30pm EST, our public television station is broadcasting "Messiah XXI for a New Millennium". The blurb says that it "gives Handel's choral masterpiece an exciting modern interpretation incorporating gospel, rock and soul music sung by international superstars Gladys Knight, Jeffrey Osborne, Roger Daltrey and Chaka Khan. Aidan Quinn narrates".
I know I'll be tuning in, but mostly because I really dig Chaka Khan and I've been longing for her classical debut. Chaka! Chaka! Chaka! I'm hoping she'll be growling her way through "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" although I can also just hear her doing the alternate version of "But Who May Abide/Refiner's Fire". I see Gladys doing "O Thou That Tellest" and the "covered in spit" one (sorry! too tired to look it up!).
Jeffrey Osborne and Roger Daltrey's aria selections I'm up in the air on. Who gets "Comfort Ye"?
Be there or be square!
Best,
Laura Sharp
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