Like Dickens' A Christmas Carol without Scrooge -- and that would never do.

We have a most distinguished Messiah to come in the excellent acoustics of Centenary United Church, 24 Main W., Monday Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.

Boris Brott will be at the helm of his National Academy Orchestra and he is bringing in an exceptionally talented band of soloists, including soprano Monica Whicher, counter-tenor Daniel Taylor (who has become the latest Canadian sensation in European and other international opera circles with his stunning interpretations of Baroque opera), Mark DuBois, Canada's most celebrated and elegant lyric tenor, and bass Daniel Lichti of Iseler Singers and faculty of music at Wilfrid Laurier fame...