Bob Christianson News

Thirty years after American conductor Marin Alsop created a radical interpretation of the Handel masterwork in her homeland, she brings her Gospel Messiah to the Royal Albert Hall for its European debut.

Marin Alsop takes on new UK and Polish appointments, leading major productions in London, Vienna, and Katowice. Don't miss her all-American program with the Philharmonia Orchestra, rare performance of Penderecki's The Black Mask, and more.

The Auditorium Theatre will present Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, an annual tradition performed over Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend on January 15 and 16.

Michael Childers' presents One Night Only benefitting the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center. a?oeThe Way We Were: Songs of the '70'sa?? features the best of Broadway and pop music from that era, for one performance only on April 22 at 6:30 pm, at The McCallum Theatre. With Direction & Choreography by Scott Coulter and Music Direction by Todd Schroeder, the cast features the best of Broadway and Hollywood performers. I had the chance to catch up with director, Scott Coulter, as he was preparing the production for rehearsal. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

The Auditorium Theatre's signature production Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah celebrates 15 years in Chicago, and is one of the first performances to kick off the Year of Chicago Music, on January 18 and 19, 2020, in addition to a special Student Matinee performance on January 17. The jazz-gospel twist on George Frideric Handel's classic Messiah oratorio premiered at the Auditorium in 2006, and has been inspiring and uplifting audiences ever since.

The Auditorium Theatre's signature production Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah celebrates 15 years in Chicago, and is one of the first performances to kick off the Year of Chicago Music, on January 18 and 19, 2020, in addition to a special Student Matinee performance on January 17. The jazz-gospel twist on George Frideric Handel's classic Messiah oratorio premiered at the Auditorium in 2006, and has been inspiring and uplifting audiences ever since.

On January 13 and 14, 2018, the Auditorium Theatre presents the 13th annual performance of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Traditionally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, Too Hot celebrates Dr. King's message of 'beloved community.'

On January 13 and 14, 2018, the Auditorium Theatre presents the 13th annual performance of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Traditionally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, Too Hot celebrates Dr. King's message of 'beloved community.' The show features acclaimed soloists Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke, and Karen Marie Richardson; legendary Detroit pianist Alvin Waddles; a choir of over 100 members led by Bill Fraher, director of concert choirs at Old St. Patrick's Church; a chamber orchestra conducted by Suzanne Mallare Acton, the assistant music director at Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, MI; and a world-class jazz band featuring electric bass, electric guitar, string bass, and more. Too Hot, which was originally conceived by conductor Marin Alsop and arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson, puts a twist on George Frideric Handel's classic oratorio, infusing the music with jazz, gospel, rock, and blues.

On January 13 and 14, 2018, the Auditorium Theatre presents the 13th annual performance of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Traditionally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, Too Hot celebrates Dr. King's message of 'beloved community.'

On January 13 and 14, 2018, the Auditorium Theatre presents the 13th annual performance of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Traditionally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, Too Hot celebrates Dr. King's message of 'beloved community.' The show features acclaimed soloists Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke, and Karen Marie Richardson; legendary Detroit pianist Alvin Waddles; a choir of over 100 members led by Bill Fraher, director of concert choirs at Old St. Patrick's Church; a chamber orchestra conducted by Suzanne Mallare Acton, the assistant music director at Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, MI; and a world-class jazz band featuring electric bass, electric guitar, string bass, and more. Too Hot, which was originally conceived by conductor Marin Alsop and arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson, puts a twist on George Frideric Handel's classic oratorio, infusing the music with jazz, gospel, rock, and blues.

The Orpheum Theatre Group announced today that a Memphis-produced engagement of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah will play April 21-22, 2018, at the historic Orpheum Theatre.

What a thrill it was to hear George Gershwin's opera with the BSO under Maestra Marin Alsop.

The critically-acclaimed Houses on the Moon Theater Company, creates ground-breaking work for the stage created through partnership with marginalized communities (including migrant youth, LGBT refugees, and survivors of gun violence). Their work has been presented Off Broadway, across the U.S. and Latin America. This spring the critically-acclaimed theater company hosted their fourth annual benefit, AMPLIFY 2016, Monday, April 18, 2016 at Gotham Comedy Club. Check out the photos below!

The Auditorium Theatre presents its annual King Holiday celebration performances of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah on Saturday, January 16 and 17, 2016.

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University presents the 10th anniversary performance of "Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah," honoring the life of Civil Rights activist and cultural icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 17 and 18, 2015. The exuberant jazz reinvention of George Frideric Handel's "Messiah"-a vibrant mix of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Swing, Classical and Scat-features star soloists Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke and Karen Marie Richardson. Tickets ($25 - $70) are on sale now and available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling (800) 982-2787 or at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E. Congress Pkwy).

Over 80 writers, directors, actors and musicians will present 10 unique musical shorts at SOUND BITES, a one-night-only off-Broadway event. Behind the Bites introduces the creators of the musicals featured at SOUND BITES with sneak peeks from the rehearsal process.

The Emmys are around the corner and we have someone Broadway lovers everywhere are going to want to hear about. Composer Bob Christianson is nothing if not versatile. He was responsible pulsating music that accompanied episodes about severa energetic New York women HBO's acclimed 'Sex and the City', and now he's back with an emotive project that just earned him an Emmy nomination!

Beginning Sunday December 15 and throughout the holiday season, PBS stations across the country will air A Christmas Carol: The Concert, the newest special from HMS Media, 17-time Emmy Award winners for arts and social issue programming for public television.

The BSO presents A Christmas Carol in Concert, a new twist on Dickens' classic tale performed as a concert with a full symphony orchestra on Friday, December 16th at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.