Handel’s “Messiah,” National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Concert Hall, through Sunday afternoon.

This has been a particularly-rich holiday season for quality cultural opportunities in Washington, D.C. and environs. In the weekend leading up to Christmas, the good stuff keeps on coming. There are three quality performances of the “Messiah” that I know of, including a one-night only evening of Baroque Christmas Music by the City Choir of Washington at the Schlesinger Hall in Alexandria Friday that has selections from it, and the National Philharmonic’s performances of the whole thing through Sunday afternoon at the Strathmore in Montgomery County. I commend the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center if only because that one features the University of Maryland Concert Choir. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Go Terps!