Lovers of classical music will have the rare opportunity to attend a performance of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, presented by the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra with soloists and its newly formed chorus, on Nov. 24 at the Dayton Masonic Center.

Retired Springfield Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Dr. David Deitrick will conduct the work and Springfield Symphony Chorale Conductor Basil Fett is preparing the chorus — which the MVSO brought together specifically to present the oratorio.

MVSO violinist Dr. Simone Lotven Sofian, who also works for the Jewish Federation as a grant writer, is coordinating the logistics for the project, which is part of the DJCC’s Cultural Arts and Book Fest offerings.

“The symphony chorus is made up of singers from the entire Miami Valley including Springfield, Tipp City, Yellow Springs, Dayton and its suburbs,” she says. “Members come from churches, synagogues and community choral groups.”

Sofian adds that the Yellow Springs Chorus as an ensemble is participating in the symphony chorus as well.

Written in 1746, Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabaeus tells the story of the Maccabean revolt against the Selucid Greeks and Antiochus IV, found in the Books of the Maccabees.

The work had its premiere on April 1, 1747 at Covent Garden in London and was one of Handel’s most popular oratorios during his lifetime.

Handel wrote the oratorio to celebrate the victory of English Prince William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, at the Battle of Culloden, Scotland.

Prior to the concert, Sofian’s husband, Rabbi David Sofian of Temple Israel, will lead a discussion about the oratorio’s connections to Chanukah.

— Marshall Weiss

DJCC’s Cultural Arts & Book Fest presents Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus performed by the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Dayton Masonic Center, 525 W. Riverview Ave. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students. Tickets available at http://www.mvso.org/ tickets or on the day of the event at the door.

To view the print version of the November 2013 Observer, click here.