It's right up there with "The Nutcracker" ballet, or singing carols on doorsteps.

Handel's "Messiah" is an artistic institution of the Christmas season, sometimes modernized and reinterpreted, sometimes repeated true to the original, with a powerhouse chorus belting out praise of Jesus like he's sitting in the audience.

Kootenai County got to enjoy the ritual on Dec. 3, at the Coeur d'Alene Symphony's "A Sing-Along Messiah," performed with the Saint George's Choir and Northwest Sacred Music Chorale.

As expected for such a production, soloists with page-long resumes defied physics, belting the notoriously long phrases that skip up and down octaves. Soprano Dawn Marie Wolski stood out with her silvery, sweet sound that was, appropriate for the theme of the concert, angelic.

The 1,100-seat auditorium at the Lake City Community Church nearly packed, the audience was familiar enough with the melodies to croon along with the provided sheet music. On par with tradition, listeners stood for the grand finale of the "Hallelujah Chorus," everyone working overtime to meet the falsetto notes.

And really, who can blame them? What's not to love about singing about peace on Earth and love for mankind?

The great thing about the "Messiah" is that it can be a spiritual experience for some, and a fantastic classical concert for others. But the melodies mean something to just about everyone.

I realize it's frustrating to read the review of a concert that's already happened. But consider this a prompting to get out the next time the "Messiah" will inevitably play near you. It's a production every community in the country performs every year, and that really everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes.

The Coeur d'Alene Symphony won't fail in that regard; conductor David Demand announced that the Lake City Community Church has already been booked for next year's performance for early December.

Mark it on the calendars you get for Christmas, and be sure to warm up your voices beforehand.

Alecia Warren is a staff writer for The Press. She can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2011, or via e-mail at awarren@cdapress.com.