In the BBC Singers office at around this time each year, we usually pop the reindeer antlers on our heads and the tinsel around our computers as we prepare for our annual Come and Sing Christmas Carols event. This year, to buck the trend, we thought we would try something different and focus on Handel’s Messiah. The piece is such a glorious celebration of the season, and as we are performing it live from Temple Church on Radio 3 on Friday 20th, we thought how lovely it would be to share the work with some of our lovely Come and Sing folk. Preparations started ages ago, and our fabulous librarian Alison managed to find 300 copies of the score from the BBC Library so everyone had their own to work from!
Finally, on Sunday 15th December, BBC Maida Vale welcomed about 200 people though its doors (our reception tree was already up and drooping), and we spent the day in the fine company of members of St James’s Baroque and under the experienced hands of maestro David Hill, working our way through the amazing score.
We recorded some extracts at the end of the day, and I hope you enjoy listening to them on Christmas day as you baste your turkey and raise a festive glass of sherry to the monumental work. See you all in 2014!
'For unto us ...'
The 'Come and Sing' choir and St James Baroque perform 'For Unto Us', from Messiah.
'Glory to God ...'
The 'Come and Sing' choir and St James Baroque perform 'Glory to God' from Messiah.
'Hallelujah'
The 'Come and Sing' choir and St James Baroque perform the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
