Messiah handled on snowy day

PEORIA -- The annual sing-it-yourself Messiah on Dec. 12 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church was not snowed under by the blizzard. 

Plenty of singers appeared, along with the usual fine small orchestra and soloists. The event was wonderful, as always -- pure beauty despite, or because of, its audience participation.

Peoria's streets were slick from snow but not impassable. And what better way to spent a frigid, snowy afternoon than singing and listening to great live music from the 18th century, written before the American revolution, during the time of England's King George II.

It was handled -- Handel, get it? --beautifully by all.

 -- Elaine Hopkins