Harry Christophers and The Sixteen Celebrate 150th Messiah Performance
The obvious question to ask Harry Christophers as he approaches his 150th performance of Händel’s great oratorio is “Don’t you ever get bored with conducting Messiah?” to which the reply is a resounding…
No! Can I ever say that I really know it and fully understand what it is capable of? No! As with all great works of art, you never quite gauge its measure.
Messiah has become synonymous with Christmas, and for Christophers this is a great pity, since Charles Jennens’ libretto spans Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. It was first performed just after Easter in 1742 and for Christophers the real drama resides in the work’s second part, which tells the Easter story.
So there is a danger that the tradition of performing it at Christmas. Almost as a ritual, can turn it into a warhorse, something that you do by rote. The work deserves better than that. I can say with total honesty, as I approach this 150th performance with The Sixteen, that I never tire of it – there is always something new and unexpected to find.
The Messiah has been performed by The Sixteen all around the world from Sydney Opera to Blackpool Grand Theatre. In contrast to the uplifting musical experiences of 150 Messiah’s (which is around 7200 sung ‘Hallelujahs’ and over 500 hours), life on the road with Messiah in the winter months can be a test. Last December every single bag belonging to 50-strong ensemble was lost en route to Madrid.
We had to perform in mufti”, says Christophers, “so I walked out in my Ted Baker t-shirt and jeans and told this fabulously well-heeled audience rich in furs and jewels why we were so strangely attired. I didn’t mention that this was all courtesy of the national airline, but the translator added that we had Iberia to thank. There was a resigned sigh from the audience but they took it in good humour. It was probably our best performance of Messiah all year!
The performance on 3 December will be sign-language interpreted by Paul Whittaker, a first for any performance of Messiah. The Sixteen have been at the vanguard of using sign-language interpreters for their concerts, particularly on their annual Choral Pilgrimage. Singers from The Sixteen will perform in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall on 11 November as part of the Royal Philharmonic Society and Classic FM’s Hear Here campaign which this month focuses on hearing impairment and silence and how they affect and influence listening.
The Sixteen’s new recording of Messiah is available on the CORO label.
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