Hallelujah! Handel returns to Bath after 271 year absence
George Friderick Handel returns to Bath for the first time since 1751 on his new 'Come and sing Messiah' Tour with Choir of the Earth, which recently launched in London.
On Saturday 26 November 2022, renowned composer George Frideric Handel will bring music from his famous ‘Messiah’ to Bath and is searching for keen choral singers to join him.
George Friderick Handel addressing Choir of the Earth's Messiah Tour audience in London on 22 October 2022
Mr Handel last came to Bath in 1751 and, at the age of 337, he is making an overdue return to the city.
It is actually George’s fourth visit, having visited in 1730 and again in 1749 when, legend has it, he admired the ‘mellow tone’ of a church organ at Keynsham so much that he offered a new peal of bells in exchange for it. Perhaps this latest visit shall reveal the fate of the organ, which remains unaccounted for amongst any of his properties or estate.
Mr Handel will arrive in Bath on Saturday 26 November for an exclusive appearance at a ‘Come and Sing’ event at Manvers Street Baptist Church, arranged for the city by online choir, Choir of the Earth.
Founded in Somerset during the pandemic, with the ambitious goal of learning and recording Handel’s full Messiah online, the international choir has since welcomed over 9,500 singers through the doors for over 80 choral courses. This event will be the first time many of the choristers have met in person, and they are keen to invite absolutely everybody who lives in and around to Bath to join them… and Mr Handel, of course!
“Messiah remains the most popular choral work ever written”, explains Founder Mark Strachan BEM, “and we are thrilled that Handel himself will be with us to see how we perform. This “Come and Sing” is open to anyone and everyone in the City of Bath and beyond.”
Musical Director Ben England BEM adds,
“I’ll teach the choruses in workshops throughout the day, and then we’ll perform them together in the early evening. It will be great fun and I hope Bath will come along to sing this marvellous music and meet Mr Handel himself.”
The Choir hosted a similar event in London on 22 October, with the illustrious composer receiving a warm welcome from the gathered choristers.
The Bath event will take place on Saturday 26 November 2022.
To book tickets, please visit https://choiroftheearth.com/messiah-tour
Adult tickets cost £35, which includes the full day event plus all the resources singers will need to learn or revise the music online in the week running up to the event. Students are very welcome to attend for only £5! Please see the above link for details.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Founder and Director of Choir of the Earth, Mark Strachan, or its Musical Director Ben England BEM (or even George Frideric Handel himself!) would welcome the opportunity to discuss the event and tell the people of Bath and the surrounding area all about it. Please email Mark to arrange.
Choir of the Earth began life as The Self-Isolation Choir, which was founded in March 2020 as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Its rebranding as Choir of the Earth in 2021 reflects how the choir has grown and matured from a pandemic phenomenon to an established choir, leading the way with digital singing innovation and climate-friendly music-making. Further information about current, future and previous projects is available at choiroftheearth.com.
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