Caramata presents Handel's Messiah

The Camarata Music Company Chorale and Orchestra and professional soloists presented Handel’s Messiah at the Yeongdeungpo Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Seoul on Dec. 5.

Camarata is an amateur singing group made up of members from over 62 different countries.

“Christmas comes with music first,” said Cheong Jin-tae, former deputy commanding general of the ROK-US Combined Forces, who attended the concert. “I was so impressed with the wonderful music presented by Camarata. I didn’t know that we had such a big and excellent choir and orchestra mainly consisting of foreigners living in Seoul. I had a great time and felt a special spirit.”

The Mormon church also invited Camarata two years ago to perform for underprivileged neighbors in the district.

Hubert Huh, a community relations director for the church in Korea, said, “We believe music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel and we always try hard to fill our homes with the sound of worthy music. This is so wonderful that we could open the concert to our friends and neighbors.”

Other special guests in the concert included soprano Cha Seung-hee, counter tenor Cho Yo-han, tenor Kim Dal-jin, and bass Kim Hyoung-tae.