“Too Hot To Handel,” the jazz-soul-R&B-gospel reinterpretation of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” at  returns after a 4 year hiatus to the Detroit Opera House. 

Too Hot To Handel is the exuberant, uplifting jazz-gospel take on Handel’s masterpiece originally conceived by Marin Alsop and arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson. It will be presented by Rackham Choir at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Detroit Opera House.  It features an all-star roster of fiery soloists Rodrick Dixon, tenor; Alfreda Burke, soprano; and Karen Marie Richardson, mezzo-soprano as well as celebrated Detroit musicians Marion Hayden, bass; Alvin Waddles, piano; Dave Taylor, drums all under the baton of Maestra Suzanne Mallare Acton.  Founded in 1949, Rackham is the oldest choir in Detroit. The January performance marks the first staging of the jazz-gospel favorite after a four-year absence from the Detroit stage.  The choir first presented “Too Hot To Handel” in 2000.

Students across the region are invited to a Student Dress Rehearsal at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 12. Students will view the full performance and all participating schools will get a curriculum guide, “Affirming Our Identities Through Music.” The guide explores the Black experience through the lens of the various genres included in Too Hot To Handel and the perspectives of some of the principal performers as people of color (POC) in the world of classical music.  The choir has underwritten ticket prices and transportation allowing more students to have access to this experience.  The choir is seeking additional support to bus more interested students to the event.  Anyone who’d like to contribute toward student attendance should visit https://rackhamchoir.org/donate/