A Masterpiece Returns to the Central West
With rehearsals now well underway, momentum is building within the Allegri Singers ensemble. Together with friends from Willoughby Singers and All Saints’ Cathedral Choir, they will present two performances of this wonderful and beloved work. The combined choral ensemble will number around 75 singers, creating a rich and powerful sound that will fill both venues.
Dates, venues, and orchestral players are all confirmed, and perhaps most exciting of all is the engagement of four brilliant vocal soloists. Those familiar with ‘Messiah’ will know that the soloists play a vital role in the storytelling. Baroque music is demanding for all performers, but each of these singers masters the technique with apparent ease while conveying the drama and emotional nuances of the work.
Soprano Bethany Carter-Sherlock is well-known to Bathurst and regional audiences for her understated clarity and poise in performance. It is always a pleasure to hear her sing. Countertenor Robert Shlemon Adam is no stranger to the region—audiences who attended Allegri Singers’ 2024 performances of Purcell’s ‘Come Ye Sons of Art’ will forever remember Robert’s mesmerizing duet with fellow countertenor Paul Tenorio.
Tenor Michael Butchard makes a welcome return to the ensemble, having previously appeared in Allegri Singers’ performances of Carl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’, Handel’s ‘Messiah’, and Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’. Bass Gabriel Desiderio is a talented newcomer to the ensemble and a fourth-year student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He regularly sings in the Choir of St. James’ King Street and the Chapel Choir of St. Paul’s College, University of Sydney.
With these outstanding soloists, the combined choral forces, and orchestral accompaniment by the elite instrumental group The Allegri Players, all under the inspiring direction of William Moxey, audiences are in for a real treat.
Final Preparations Underway
After a short break incorporating a long weekend, school holidays, and of course the Bathurst 1000, the Allegri Singers are returning refreshed for final rehearsals. With only a few weeks to go, Musical Director William Moxey will bring the choir to peak readiness for the performances.
For seasoned choristers, ‘Messiah’ is always a delight to perform; for newcomers to the work, it’s an exciting adventure! The four vocal soloists will bring their extraordinary gifts of musical expression to captivate audiences with their vital contribution to telling the story of ‘Messiah’. This is going to be a genuine treat—for performers and audiences alike.
The Stories Behind ‘Messiah’
Many will already be familiar with this excellent work, but what of its history and the stories behind its creation?
Handel wrote his first opera when he was barely 20 years old. Following its success, he spent time in Italy, held a post as Kapellmeister at the Court of Hanover, and in 1710 went to London, where opera was becoming increasingly popular but was often overly extravagant. Handel’s timing was impeccable, and his opera ‘Rinaldo’ of 1711 was a huge success.
After a dutiful return to Germany, he soon returned to England, and in 1714, his boss, the Elector of Hanover, became King George I of England following the death of Queen Anne.
There followed a hectic, roller-coaster period of highly successful (and some not-so) operas and sacred works, culminating in 1738 with the oratorio ‘Saul’, shortly followed by ‘Messiah’, with texts for both written by Charles Jennens. It’s no surprise, then, that there is a strongly operatic flavour to ‘Messiah’.
With recitative and arias from soloists linking the narrative with choruses, the story of Christ takes audiences on an emotional journey—from the auspicious forecasts of the prophets to the joy of the arrival of a child, not just any child, but the Son of God; through the agony of the crucifixion to the promise of resurrection, and the acknowledgement of Christ’s sacrifice, culminating in the glorious, majestic ‘Amen’.
This is simply glorious music, and you don’t have to be a Christian believer to appreciate Handel’s genius in his telling of a dramatic story in musical form—and this is one of the most dramatic stories of all time.
A Comprehensive Souvenir Program
To enhance your enjoyment of the performances, a professionally produced full-colour program booklet is available for purchase. Titled ‘Handel’s Sacred Oratorio Messiah’, this comprehensive guide features detailed information about the Messiah narrative, the oratorio’s composition and performance history, and profiles of all participating ensembles—the Allegri Singers, All Saints’ Cathedral Choir, and Willoughby Singers.
The program also includes biographies of the four soloists—Bethany Carter-Sherlock, Robert Shlemon Adam, Michael Butchard, and Gabriel Desiderio—along with information about The Allegri Players ensemble and Musical Director William Moxey. Most valuably, it contains an itemised performance schedule and the complete Charles Jennens libretto, allowing you to follow every word of this magnificent work as it unfolds.
Priced at just $5, it’s a wonderful and informative keepsake of what promises to be a memorable musical experience.
Performance Details
Saturday, November 15, 2.30pm at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Orange
Sunday, November 16, 2.30pm at All Saints’ Cathedral, Bathurst
Tickets: $45 (children under 16 free with a paying adult).
Souvenir programs: $5
Limited tickets available at the door, but booking is strongly recommended.
Purchase tickets online now at: www.allegrisingers.org.au/tickets
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of the greatest works in the classical repertoire, performed by some of the region’s finest musicians.
