Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC) has announced upcoming vocal performances featured in its 2021-22 season.

First up is a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah.” Baroque and Classical specialist Bernard Labadie will be on the podium for this holiday staple.

Performance Dates: Dec. 15 & 16, 2021

Coming up in February, the NAC Orchestra will perform Jake Heggie’s “Songs for Murdered Sisters.” The work, co-commissioned by the orchestra and Houston Grand Opera, will receive its world premiere.

Based on eight new texts by Margaret Atwood, Heggie wrote the song cycle for baritone Joshua Hopkins as a memorial to his sister and two other women murdered in their homes by an ex-partner.

Performance Date: Feb. 23, 2022