COEUR d'ALENE - For two years, Robert Bittick been the man behind "Messiah."

The Hayden resident has financed production of the Christmas concert featuring the Coeur d'Alene Symphony, taking on the role of producer.

"I wanted to prove that it could be done, because I knew it could," he said.

And he was right.

Since he was, it means he can step back, at least to where he's a facilitator of the annual program.

This time around, the Coeur d'Alene Symphony is stepping up and taking on the costs of the Dec. 3 show that will highlight the Saint George's Choir, the Northwest Sacred Music Chorale and soloists Dawn Wolski, soprano; Patti Blankenship, mezzo-soprano; Tim Campbell, tenor; and Steve Mortier, baritone.

There will be about 25 members of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony, about 50 members of the Northwest Sacred Music Chorale and another 50 from the Saint George Choir taking the stage at Lake City Community Church.

"Incredible," Bittick said. "This is even bigger than last year."

The "Messiah" has already proven to draw some of the largest crowds to see the Symphony. The two-hour production has been popular each year, bringing in guests from southern Idaho. It attracted about 700 last year and musicians earned a standing ovation. Bittick is hoping to see around 1,000 people there this year.

"Everybody is enjoying this so much, it's progressing each year," he said. "I can't think of a better way to start Christmas holiday."

Tickets to the show will be $15. They can be purchased at the Symphony Office, Burt's Music, Great Harvest Bread and at the door.

There will be an intermission, when guests can enjoy coffee and cookies in the spacious foyer and sit near the rockwall fireplace.

A full performance like this, with a symphony, two full choirs and professional soloists, is usually found in bigger cities like New York or Chicago or San Francisco, said Bittick who is from the Bay area.

"It's huge there," he said. "It sells out in less than a half hour. People line up to get tickets."

Bittick said the first time he heard Handel's "Messiah," "my mouth dropped.

"I couldn't talk, I had tears in my eyes, It was just overwhelming because it was done professionally," he said.

He said many people have worked hard and practice often to pull things together and be ready for the concert.

"Everybody does their part in this. It's just so wonderful," he said.

Bittick isn't just worried about the music inside.

He said because there will be a line of traffic turning into the Lake City Community Church parking lot off Ramsey Road, and there likely will also be snowy, icy conditions, there will be volunteers on hand to guide drivers in.

"It would break my heart to see somebody get in an accident," he said.

Once the crowd is settled in, they'll see a special "Messiah" performance, Bittick said.

Audience members will receive sheet music, too, and song words will be projected on the wall, with Scripture reference, too.

"If they can't read music, they're welcome to sing along," Bittick said. "David Demand will turn around and tell them when to sing."

Pastor Paul Peabody with Grace Bible Church will give a short presentation on the history of Handel's "Messiah."

"It's not Sunday preaching or an altar call," Bittick said, chuckling. "He's just explaining it."

George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" was originally an Easter show. It was first performed on the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742.

"In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses," according to a Smithsonian.com article. "But in 'Messiah,' says Laurence Cummings, director of the London Handel Orchestra, "the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional impact and uplifting messages."

It was in 1741 when Handel was approached by the Charles Jennens about a musical oratorio on the life of the 'Messiah,' according to anotherthink.com.

"Jennens' concept was to tell the entire story of the Christ through passages of Scripture put to music. He would begin with the Old Testament prophecies foretelling the ministry of Christ, move to the New Testament's accounts of the birth of Jesus, then forward through his death and resurrection, all seen through the eyes of the writers of Scripture," the website says.

"Handel pioneered the 'oratorio,' a musical composition designed to teach the Scriptures by setting them to music. He seems to have immediately understood how important such a composition about the life of Jesus might be, and he set to work on it right away."

The "Messiah" in Coeur d'Alene is a one-night only performance.

If enough tickets are sold this year - at least 800 or 900 - a second performance will be added next year.

There is no better way to kick off the holidays, Bittick believes, than by sitting down and taking in Handel's "Messiah" at Lake City Community Church.

"It's different than anything else we do," he said. "There's nothing around like it.

Bittick is confident that anyone who comes to "Messiah," will leave feeling "very uplifted."

"It's wonderful, I tell you," he said with a big smile.

If you go

The Coeur d'Alene Symphony will present "Messiah," at 7 p.m., Dec. 3 at Lake City Community Church. The sing-along event will also feature conductor David Demand, the Saint George's Choir, the Northwest Sacred Music Chorale and soloists Dawn Wolski, Patti Blankenship, Tim Campbell and Steve Mortier. Tickets are $15, which includes sheet music, and available at the Symphony Office, Burt's Music, Great Harvest Bread and at the door.

Info: 765-3833