Handel's Messiah

Autumn concert

Handel's Messiah needs little introduction, being one of his most well known and well loved choral works. Numerous performances and 'Come and Sing' opportunities have made this a particular favourite with choirs and audiences alike. Handel composed 'Messiah' in 1741 based on the libretto by Charles Jennens, who edited Shakespeare's plays. This performance gave the audience a chance to hear this marvellous work again, or perhaps to hear it for the first time, performed by the Royal Free Singers, with a professional orchestra and soloists: Bruce Russell, Alexander L'Estrange, Nick Pritchard and Jenny Stafford.

Ben Gunner, our conductor, was delighted by the choir's performance:
It was great last night – you upped everything and you must and should feel very pleased with yourselves.  Members of the orchestra and soloists commented what an excellent sound you produced and what an exciting and rhythmic performance It was.  Other remarks to me from both the choir and audience alike included such words as 'fantastic night', 'excellent  Messiah', 'terrific Messiah', 'very exhilarating' and I too thought you were positively fizzing.  So, very well done. You brought so much pleasure to so many people last night, not least me.

Royal Free Singers : Schubert and Swayne

November 26th, 2011, Windsor Parish Church

The Autumn Concert from the Royal Free Singers featured a modern work by Giles Swayne. Acclaimed by The Times as the finest choral composer writing today, Giles Swayne's Missa Tiburtina owes much to the experiences gained on his first visit to Africa in 1981, in particular an awareness of how the greed of the richer countries of the West was damaging Africa's environment and the culture and quality of life of ordinary Africans, a theme marked by the written verses which he uses to annotate the score. It is not a liturgical work, but gives a voice to the poor calling out for sanity to prevail.

The other main work in the programme was Miriam's Song of Victory by Schubert, a cantata based on the Israelites' hymn of praise and thanksgiving following their safe crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army. The final item on the programme is the ‘Five Mystical Songs’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, four meditative songs each with its own character, ending with a hymn of praise.

At this concert we raised more than £250 for the Save the Children Fund.