We look forward to seeing you in person for Handel’s Messiah. Please take a moment to review the information for the individual concerts below.
We invite you to read the program notes in the concert program below!
Pre-Concert Talk With Charles King
Each performance is preceded by a pre-concert talk with Charles King, author of Every Valley - The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah. This special opportunity to hear from Mr. King is available to all ticket holders, and the event will begin one hour before curtain time (3pm on Saturday, 4pm on Sunday).
Saturday Concert
When: Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Pre-concert lecture with Charles King at 3:00 pm
Location: National City Christian Church
Address: 5 Thomas Circle NW Washington, DC
Website: nationalcitycc.org
The main entrance for all patrons is located at the top of the stone steps on Thomas Circle.
A handicapped-accessible entrance is located on 14th Street NW. This entrance should only be used by patrons with accessibility concerns.
Transportation:
Driving & Parking - The venue is located on Thomas Circle at 14th St. NW. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, and is typically not time restricted after 7 pm, though some blocks are metered until 10:00 pm. The nearest parking garage is located at the Washington Plaza Hotel, which is across 14th. St. from the Church on Vermont Ave. NW, one block from the venue. Additional Parking can be found at the One Thomas Circle Garage, located at 1427 M St. NW, two blocks from the venue.
Metro & Bus - The nearest Metro stations are McPherson Square on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines and Farragut North on the Red line. From McPherson Square, exit the metro and walk north on 14th st. for 4 blocks to Thomas Circle. From Farragut North, walk east on K St. to 14th St., and then turn left on 14th and walk for 3 blocks to Thomas Circle.
Sunday Concert
When: Sunday December 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Pre-concert lecture with Charles King at 4:00 pm
Location: Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church
Address: 6601 Bradley Blvd. Bethesda, MD
Website: bradleyhillschurch.org
Your ticket corresponds to a seating section at the church. Please review what section you are seated in before you arrive at the church. Once you arrive, please keep your tickets out after they are scanned at the door so that our inside ushers can direct you to the correct section. The audience sections are:
Premium Orchestra, Preferred Orchestra, and Rear Orchestra (all located in the Nave)
Rear Balcony (accessed via stairs in the Narthex)
Transept Seating: There are two transepts at the church, to your left and right as you face the organ. The Thirteen differentiates between sides of both transepts. For transept seating, enter the Narthex and ask for instructions from ushers.
West Side Transepts: This refers to the side of both transepts that is furthest away from the church’s organ. This is a side view of our performance of Messiah.
East Side Transepts: This refers to the side of both transepts that is closest to the church’s organ. This is an obstructed view of our performance of Messiah.
Choir Loft (located behind the orchestra; conductor view)
Transportation:
Driving & Parking
Bradley Hills is located in Bethesda and has a 150-spot parking lot on-site for patrons. We expect this lot to fill up - please allow for extra time and arrive early! Additional overflow parking is available on the streets in the neighborhood surrounding Bradley Hills.
Metro & Bus
Bradley Hills can be reached on public transit by taking the 47 bus from the downtown Bethesda Metro Station (Red Line), which runs every 30 minutes.