The Oratorio Society of Utah's 73rd annual presentation of Handel's "Messiah" will be conducted by Victoria Bond, music director of the Roanoke (Virginia) Symphony, according to Society president Richard Horak.
Bond was the first woman appointed EXXON/Arts Endowment conductor with a major orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, where she worked with Andre Previn. She is a frequent guest conductor of prominent U.S. and European orchestras, and is also a composer of note, composing on commission for a number of dance and theater companies.A 250-voice chorus is preparing "Messiah" with Morris Lee as director. Soloists for the event, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Dec. 10-11, will be Diana Walker, soprano; Edna Garabedian, mezzo-soprano; Mark Marriott, tenor; and Michael Wadsworth, bass-baritone. Tickets are $5-$10 this year. Admission to a public dress rehearsal in Symphony Hall on Dec. 8 will be $2.