Event
Handel’s Messiah
Naples Philharmonic Special Performance
Naples Philharmonic
Radu Paponiu, conductor
Naples Philharmonic Chorus
Jeremy T. Warner, director
Helen Zhibing Huang, soprano
Kristen Choi, mezzo-soprano
Andrew Turner, tenor
Efraín Solís, baritone
Handel — Messiah (HWV 56)
Join the Naples Philharmonic and the Naples Philharmonic Chorus as they reprise the beloved symphonic classic Handel’s Messiah, known for its sweeping combination of orchestral and choral components. This Baroque masterwork continues to thrill audiences centuries after its famed inception; Composer George Frideric Handel is said to have written his magnum opus in a matter of mere weeks, writing feverishly from dawn until dusk until it was finished. His burst of inspiration was clearly a stroke of genius, as the piece captivated audiences at its Dublin debut and continues to be a concert hall favorite. While originally written for an Easter performance, Messiah has become a Yuletide favorite to ring in the holiday season.
The November 25 performance will be presented at:
Hayes Hall
Artis—Naples
The November 26 performance will be presented at:
First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs
9751 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs
Naples Philharmonic
Naples Philharmonic
Founded in 1982, the Naples Philharmonic normally performs over 140 orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts from September through June each year.
Meet the Musicians
Alexander Shelley
Artistic and Music Director Designate Meet Alexander
Jack Everly
Principal Pops Conductor Meet Jack
James Ehnes
Artistic Partner Meet James
Radu Paponiu
Associate Conductor Meet Radu
Alvin Ho
Assistant Conductor Meet Alvin
Radu Paponiu
Radu Paponiu
Radu Paponiu is the associate conductor of the Naples Philharmonic and director of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Since 2017, Radu has conducted the Naples Philharmonic in more than 100 different classical, education and pops programs. Radu was also recently appointed artistic and music director of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor, Radu has appeared with the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra and Banatul Philharmonic of Timişoara in Romania, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, California Young Artists Symphony and National Repertory Orchestra. Radu has collaborated with notable soloists such as Yefim Bronfman, Midori, Vladimir Feltsman, Robert Levin, Nancy Zhou, Stella Chen and the Ébène Quartet. Radu has served as cover conductor with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Konzerthausorchester Berlin, and he has assisted conductors including Andrey Boreyko, Iván Fischer, Fabio Luisi, Stéphane Denève, Hans Graf, Donald Runnicles, Cristian Măcelaru, Bernard Labadie and Ludovic Morlot. Radu has served on the conducting faculty of the Juilliard Pre-College as well as conductor for the Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard in Shanghai, China, and at the Southeast Asia Music Festival in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Radu completed his Master of Music in orchestral conducting at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Hugh Wolff. While in Boston, Radu was also conductor apprentice with the Handel and Haydn Society. In the summer of 2017, Radu was appointed assistant conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado, as well as conducting fellow for the Cabrillo Festival Workshop in California. Radu participated in the prestigious American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival and School as the recipient of both the Albert Tipton Aspen Fellowship and the David A. Karetsky Memorial Fellowship. In Aspen, Radu furthered his studies under the guidance of Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff, Leonard Slatkin, Patrick Summers and Federico Cortese.
Meet Radu
Jeremy T. Warner
Jeremy T. Warner
Jeremy T. Warner is a passionate promoter of the choral arts. Since 1998, he has held a variety of conducting and artistic director positions throughout the academic, local community and church choral scenes. He is a respected clinician and has prepared professional choirs for touring performances in a variety of choral-orchestral settings, including multiple international tours. Jeremy completed his Master of Music in choral conducting at the University of Memphis, Bachelor of Music in theory and composition at Union University, three supplementary years of doctoral studies in choral conducting and a four-month residency in Salzburg, Austria.
Meet Jeremy