About

Musique Royale announces Handel’s Messiah performed by emerging artists at St John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg on Tuesday December 23 at 7pm. For music lovers around the world, Handel’s Messiah brings families together to begin their Christmas celebrations. Annually, it’s the single most performed piece of classical music worldwide (The Guardian). Handel’s masterpiece in its original version was astonishingly written in three to four weeks.

While now it is performed with giant orchestras and choirs, Handel originally wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces. Artistic director and singer Janelle Lucyk has congregated a troupe of young historical performance specialists from across Canada to create this pocket-sized Messiah which is aligned towards the original format, and she will be joined by soloists including tenor Kerry Bursey, countertenor Ian Sabourin and bass Alexander Dobson.

The concert includes a sing-a-long Hallelujah chorus, where our audience is invited to join us, with a rehearsal preceding the performance at 6:30 pm to go over the music. Scores are provided at the door.

With the Hallelujah chorus as its centerpiece, Messiah can charm any listener, and drawing together some of Canada’s brightest emerging stars, Handel’s powerful music will light up Lunenburg this December.

About The Artists

Ménestrel

Ménestrel is a Canadian early music ensemble co-founded by Janelle Lucyk and Kerry Bursey, mixing ancient repertoire with Canadian oral folk traditions. Janelle Lucyk is a singer and producer among an emerging generation of Canadian artists specializing in old music and historically informed performance, taking ideas from conception to the stage. Kerry Bursey is a tenor and plucked string instrumentalist whose voice is appreciated for its luminous quality and as a sought-after lutenist, is also invested in the rare practice of self-accompaniment, in early and folk music of northwestern traditions.

Beyond traditional venues, Ménestrel is committed to bringing the transformative magic of music to unexpected places. In 2024 Ménestrel took to the road, giving performances and collaborating with singers and choirs in all Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. Since 2022, their “Messiah-on-the-go!” production congregates 20 emerging performers from across Canada to be featured in historic Nova Scotian venues. Last summer they were in residency in France and Spain for concerts, workshops and recording. Their upcoming Leaf Music album is scheduled for release in March 2026. Their concerts aim to demystify early music, juxtaposing it next to folk songs, which are songs of the people. Ménestrel has been active across Canada since 2019.

Ian Sabourin

Ian Sabourin is a Montreal-based Canadian Countertenor celebrated for his luminous tone, vocal agility, and expressive depth. The first countertenor ever accepted into Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique, he is recognized for his “stunning” and “powerfully expressive” artistry. Equally at home in Baroque and contemporary repertoire, Ian brings clarity and emotional nuance to every performance, captivating audiences across Canada and beyond. Dedicated to sharing his expertise, he also offers private voice coaching for emerging singers. Upcoming engagements include Handel’s Giulio Cesare and Bach’s St. John Passion.

Alexander Dobson

British-Canadian baritone Alexander Dobson has been praised for his musical and dramatic artistry on both opera and concert stages. He was lauded for his “gripping embodiment of Wozzeck” (Journal Voir) in a production of the Berg opera with Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Other roles of note include the title role in Don Giovanni, the Count/Le Nozze di Figaro and Thomas Betterton/Prince of Players, all with Florentine Opera, and Guglielmo/Così Fan Tutte, Belcoré /L’elisir d’amore and Ned Keene/Peter Grimes, all with L’Opera de Montréal.

For more please visit:
https://menestrel.net