FARMINGTON — The San Juan College Music Department brought two
astounding performances of George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" to
the Henderson Fine Arts Center Performance Hall for its annual
Masterworks Concert.  The performances could not have come at a
better time.  "Messiah," is not only Handel's most famous
composition. It stands alone in the cannon of Western classical
music.  The genius of Handel's piece is that its message is
accessible and applicable to anyone regardless of time, place or
religiosity.  The piece captures the composer's ferocity, his
independence and his genius.  It is uplifting and engages in a
dialogue with itself and the audience. The orchestral sections
are followed by a statement from the soloists while the grand
choral sections drive home messages.  The San Juan College
performances captured the piece's Biblical grandeur, and the
delicate balance between choir and orchestra and soloist to
weave a truly compelling musical narrative.  But in order to
understand "Messiah," one must