Auckland Choral Presents Handel’s Messiah

Auckland Choral Presents Handel’s Messiah, 14 & 15 December 2015 at the Auckland
Town Hall

It simply isn’t Christmas in Auckland without Auckland Choral’s Messiah. Join us at the Auckland Town Hall this December for two rousing performances of Handel’s beloved oratorio (14 and 15 December 2015, show starts 7.30pm).

Auckland Choral’s Messiah is an Auckland institution. Auckland Choral has performed Messiah every single year at Christmastime since 1919 – making this the 96th consecutive year of performance! It is believed that Auckland Choral holds the worldwide record for the greatest number of consecutive annual performances of Messiah – we know this music better than anyone.

Despite this venerable history, each year Auckland Choral brings a fresh interpretation to the beloved classic. This year’s promises to be a particularly dazzling performance: since our recent membership drive, we have over 120 active singers who are all in excellent voice, as well as a very strong line-up of soloists: Marlena Devoe (soprano), Wendy Dawn Thompson (mezzo-soprano), David Hamilton (tenor) and Martin Snell (bass).

Bass soloist Martin Snell joins us directly from Auckland Choral’s October performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, where he drew rave reviews for his “eloquent” and “noble” performance. Soprano soloist Marlena Devoe was named the 2014 first-prize winner at the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Awards in Sydney. Auckland Choral is also joined once again by the wonderful Pipers Sinfonia, who bring Handel’s beautiful baroque orchestration to life.

Messiah is the most popular oratorio of all time for good reason: it combines entrancing solo pieces (“Thy rebuke hath broken his heart”, “He was despised”) with stirring chorus movements (“Surely he hath borne our griefs”, “He trusted in God”, the famous “Hallelujah” chorus).

Auckland Choral has had a magnificent year in 2015, with the choir recently praised both for its ability to create a “spectacular wall of sound” as well as “particularly poignant” gentler moments (NZ Herald, 2 Nov 2015). What better way to finish an exceptional year than with the proud tradition of Handel’s

Messiah, guaranteed to leave you walking out of the Auckland Town Hall full of Christmas spirit.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster, $34–$89 with concessions available. For more information, visit us at www.aucklandchoral.com. All media inquiries should be directed to Auckland Choral administration manager Jennifer Hsu at admin@aucklandchoral.com.

ENDS

© Scoop Media