Pennsylvania Ballet

March 5-9, $22-$124, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-551-7000, paballet.org.

by Janet Anderson

dance

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This Messiah is big. It's choreographed by Robert Weiss; he's currently artistic director of Carolina Ballet but you might remember that Weiss directed PAB in the '80s. You also might remember that he never thought small.

So, how big? Weiss has choreographed 53 sections of dance to tell the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Some dancers will perform, as usual, in pointe shoes; others will dance barefoot. There are sheep, doves, angels and many other beings, celestial and otherwise, which will hover, fly and perform. Weiss tells the entire story of Jesus' birth, death and resurrection as laid out in the magnificent Handel oratorio.

The oratorio will be sung by the Philadelphia Kantorei onstage for part of the performance with full orchestral accompaniment. The staging is spare but dramatic. Composed in 1741, Messiah was intended to be performed during Lent, the 40-day period of repentance and self-reflection leading to Easter. Here's an opportunity to see a gorgeous staging of magnificent music, performed just as the composer wished. Repentance never looked so good.

March 5-9, $22-$124, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-551-7000, paballet.org.