Farquhar Auditorium: Alix Goolden Hall

Alix Goolden Hall: Handels Messiah goes without saying, and there are two options: the Civic Orchestras 15th annual sing-along performance Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Alix Goolden Hall, $10-$22 and the Victoria Symphonys usual pair Dec. 20, 8 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2:30 p.m.; Farquhar Auditorium, $35-$55 . This year, however, Bach is giving Handel a run for his money: On Dec. 1, the Victoria Symphony tackled his complete Christmas Oratorio, and he is the focus of two more coming concerts. , according to Times Colonist. On Dec. 21, the Victoria Bach Ensemble, now in its 10th season, presents its third annual Christmas concert 7:30 p.m., Church of St. John the Divine, $15/$10 . The all-Bach program will include violin and keyboard concertos, a trio sonata, and the joyous Cantata 51, a virtuosic showcase for soprano Eve Daniell and trumpeter David Barss. The ensemble also includes six string players and is led by keyboard player Michael Drislane. We are halfway through the classical Christmas music season, though the busiest weeks are still to come, with one concert scheduled as late as Christmas Eve. The first, Christmas in Bachs Leipzig, is the annual holiday concert of the Early Music Society of the Islands Saturday, 8 p.m., Alix Goolden Hall, $26-$32 . Jeanne Lamon, longtime director of the Toronto-based Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, will lead and perform in a program including the popular Cantata 61 and seasonal arias and chorales by Bach, along with works by Graupner, Vivaldi and Telemann. Also among the performers: soprano Nancy Argenta, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, and the Vox Humana chamber choir all fresh or exhausted? from the Christmas Oratorio , plus the Victoria Baroque Players. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.