Haleliwia! Come and sing Handel’s Messiah… with a difference!
This Saturday, 10 December, Choir of the Earth is inviting absolutely everybody to come and sing choruses from Handel’s Messiah in Cardiff, with a unique opportunity to sing and record the famous Hallelujah Chorus in Welsh!
Choir of the Earth is a global choir that has welcomed more than 9,500 singers through its doors since it was formed in Somerset in March 2020, when the pandemic was at its height, originally called The Self-Isolation Choir.
Its ambitious goal was to invite people all over the world to learn and record Handel’s full ‘Messiah’ online – a task that Musical Director Ben England BEM at first advised Founder Mark Strachan BEM was “mad”. But record it they did, and hit headlines around the world.
The Choir has continued to thrive, even as many members have returned to their in-person singing groups, with more than 650 regular members who call themselves a “global choral family”. These Messiah Tour events mark the first time that many of them have met in person, and they are keen to invite absolutely everybody in the local areas around the events to come and sing with them.
One Chorister of the Earth explains:
We have so much fun at our online rehearsals and our performances are really powerful, but I wasn’t sure how that would translate to an in-person event. I needn’t have worried – I had an absolute ball!
Even if you haven’t sung with Choir of the Earth before – or even heard of us – you will have a brilliant time! Ben, the COTE team and the other singers are all so friendly and encouraging, you’ll become an instant Chorister of the Earth the second you walk through the door. Don’t miss out – it’s amazing music, great value for money and incredible fun! I’ve already booked two more!
Singers will also be able to meet George Frideric Handel himself, who is touring with the Choir!
Founder, Mark Strachan BEM, is excited to introduce Mr Handel to the singers of Cardiff, saying:
George Friderick Handel addressing Choir of the Earth's Messiah Tour audience in London on 22 October 2022. Photo Credit: Andrea Liu.
Messiah remains the most popular choral work ever written and we are thrilled that Handel himself will be with us to see how we perform!
This ‘Come and Sing’ event is open to anyone and everyone in the city of Cardiff and beyond, and as a nod to our predominantly Welsh-speaking venue – Eglwys Dewi Sant – we will also be learning and recording the Hallelujah Chorus in Welsh!
Musical Director Ben England BEM adds:
I’ll teach some of the choruses in workshops throughout the day, and then we’ll perform them together in the early evening, including Hallelujah in Welsh. It will be great fun and I hope Cardiff will come along to sing this marvellous music.
Absolutely everybody is very welcome to find out more and book their place for this or any other event at: https://choiroftheearth.com/messiah-tour
Full price tickets cost £25 and student tickets cost only £5 with the discount code provided at the link above. Tickets include all of the resources singers will need to brush up on the music before the event, a digital score, attendance at the event, and free tea and coffee in the morning and afternoon breaks.
For the Cardiff event, £5 from each full price ticket will be donated to the Bronglais Chemo Appeal, to support those affected by cancer across Ceredigion and mid Wales.
Notes to editors:
Choir of the Earth’s Founder Mark Strachan BEM and/or its charismatic Musical Director Ben England BEM would welcome the opportunity to discuss the event and tell the people of Cardiff and the surrounding area all about it. Please email Head of Communications, Nikki Chilton, 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 from 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.
The come and sing Messiah Tour is the Choir’s first venture into live events, with successful events having already taken place in London on 22 October and Bath on 26 November 2022, and a further seven events planned around the UK and Ireland in 2023.
Further information about the Choir’s current, future and previous projects is available at choiroftheearth.com, or follow us on social media: