John Terauds – The Toronto Star

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s gift to the city this season is a wonderfully shaped, gorgeously glowing performance of George Frideric Handel’s 1742 oratorio Messiah. With the help of four excellent soloists and an expertly prepared Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, visiting conductor — and Handel specialist — Nicholas McGegan brought an easy bounce and infectious sense of enthusiasm to this Christmastime favourite at Roy Thomson Hall on Tuesday night.

Fortunately for those people who don’t care about the oratorio’s tale of Christian redemption, the beauty of Handel’s music is so great as to inspire its own special kind of devotion.

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