There's Christmas music and then there's Handel's "Messiah," (originally performed in the spring, but somehow transferred to the Christmas season), Bedford Symphony Orchestra at the Zeiterion Center for the Performing Arts.

Playing energetically under the baton of Music Director Dr. David MacKenzie, the orchestra was embellished by four guest soloists and the Chatham Chorale for the "Messiah" segment, and a series of South Coast artists for the more varied Christmas music portion of the program.

Early arrivals for the concert realized they were in for a special evening when they were serenaded in the Zeiterion lobby by a group from the Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford directed by Gary Langevin and accompanied by Jacqueline Maillet.

Concertgoers' evening began with the first part of the "Messiah" plus the magnificent "Hallelujah Chorus" from the second part of the Handel masterpiece.

The four vocal solos of the "Messiah" not only convey the story of Christ's life, but also flesh out the text which Saturday evening's guest singers did handsomely. Soprano Kristen Watson, mezzo soprano Nancy Caudill, tenor Jason McStoots and baritone TianXu Zhou very forcefully intertwined their roles.

Dr. MacKenzie became very animated whenever the Chatham Chorale became involved in the "Messiah," apparently to ensure the Cape group's dramatic effects were as highlighted as they were. The audience was delighted with their performance.

As with any packages under a Christmas tree, the smallest often turn out to be the most valued and appreciated. Six-year-old trumpet prodigy Geoffrey Gallante proved to be a favorite of the audience from the minute he walked onto the stage dwarfed by the NBSO players, who surrounded him as he joined them with gusto seemingly beyond his years in a couple of Christmas numbers. In addition to his playing, the audience knew where he was among the NBSO musicians by the Santa Claus hat he was wearing.

He was followed in this salute to SouthCoast's "natural resources" portion of the concert by members of the Dartmouth Middle and High School string orchestras, members of the New Bedford Youth Ballet, and renowned fado singer Ana Vinagre who charmed concertgoers with the earnestness and emotion of her singing.

According to the underlying theme of this holiday concert of paying tribute to the cultural diversity of the region in which we live, the NBSO and Dr. MacKenzie deserve a standing ovation of their own.