Perhaps no single British choral work is better known — or performed more often — than Handel’s “Messiah,” a Christmas staple in many parts of the world, including Vacaville, where it can be heard in the coming weeks at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The concert, staged by the Solano Chamber Society Chorus and Orchestra, is free.

Conductor Jay Trottier of Fairfield will direct a 7 p.m. Dec. 3 performance at St. Mary’s, 350 Stinson Ave. The performance will be repeated at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4780 Lincoln Ave., Oakland.

Both performances include a full orchestra and soloists from the Bay Area. Scores will be provided for audience sing-alongs.

A German-born musician and composer who settled in England, Handel, best known in his time for his operas, wrote the oratorio — a large musical composition for orchestra, choir and singers — in a creative whirlwind over 24 days in 1741 in London. He revised it two years later.

“Messiah” is in three parts. The first deals with the prophecy of the Messiah’s coming; the second by the sufferings and death of Christ, and ends with the famous and rousing “Hallelujah Chorus”; and the third part deals with the resurrection and begins with “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” continuing through to “O death, where is thy sting?” and ends with “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”