• Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Messiah! — Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at DesertView Performing Arts Center, 39900 S. Clubhouse Drive in Saddlebrooke; 8 p.m. Dec. 7-8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Tickets: $50 for SaddleBrooke through www.saddlebrooketwo.com; $38 for Tucson shows through the TSO, 882-8585 or www.tucsonsymphony.org.

Features the orchestra, TSO Chorus and guest vocalists mezzo-soprano Keri Alkema, tenor Eric Fennell and baritone Andrew Garland. Why you want to see it : See above, and add to it the TSO’s tenure at mounting Messiah! as well as its penchant for bringing in top-notch vocal guests to breathe life into Charles Jennens’ libretto.