Handel's Messiah: A Baroque Christmas

On Saturday 7th December, I travelled to Blackburn to play with Baroque in the North (a professional period instrument ensemble based in Manchester) and Blackburn Music Society in their annual performance of Handel's Messiah at Blackburn Cathedral.

Messiah was composed in 1741 by George Frederic Handel. It is an English oratorio (work for orchestra, choir and soloists), based on the life on Jesus Christ, with text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and Psalms. With its premiere in Dublin on 13th April 1742, the work didn't receive its English premiere until nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western classical music.

There has been a performance of Handel's Messiah at Blackburn Cathedral every year since the 1930's. Blackburn Music Society has held a long tradition of excellent music making having performed with artists such as Sir Charles Groves, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Vernon Handley, Peter Pears and Dame Janet Baker, amongst others. In 1993 the Music Society was awarded Blackburn's Civic Medal for its outstanding service to the Borough.

Blackburn Cathedral

Baroque In The North (formerly known as Northern Baroque) formed in 2003, initially as a chamber ensemble. They are based in Manchester but travel throughout the North of England performing in concerts, collaborating with choirs and giving educational workshops exploring period instrument playing.

We met all together for the first time on the afternoon of the concert. It was a challenge to rehearse all of the music in such a limited amount of time but we did it and the concert was a great success!

The soloists were Daniella Sicari (soprano), Kate Aitchison (mezzo), Daniel Joy (tenor) and Peter Brooks (bass). The conductor was Abi Kitching.