Handel's Messiah has, for better or worse, become inextricably associated with massed choirs and full orchestras - but it's unlikely the composer had Huddersfield Choral Society in mind when he wrote it more than 270 years ago. Instead he envisaged his grand oratorio being performed by a small group of singers and musicians, a combination splendidly recreated by St Peter's Consort and the Cathedral Strings in St. John's Church on Wednesday night.
The setting itself was a major contributor to the occasion, with both the architecture and acoustics of the 18th-century church assisting the sound and overall ambience to fine effect. However, such factors can only enhance if the performance is good to begin with - and this one was superb in all respects.
A small choir (on this occasion 20 singers) may be the 'proper' way to present Messiah but it also means it has to be fully in command of its material from start to finish. All four vocal sections of Consort achieved just that, from the subtlety required in the opening passages of Since by Man came Death, via the dexterity of Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder, to a commendable effort to dislodge the recently-restored plasterwork with All We Like Sheep and, of course Hallelujah.
The balance between orchestra and singers was beautifully struck by conductor Tom Moore, music and voices always perfectly complementing one another, whether on the most rousing of choruses or sensitive solo parts.
All in all, an evening of musical excellence, demonstrating how the most familiar of material can be made fresh by suitably talented hands.
David Pickersgill (Edited)
Re. Concert on 9th December 2013 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
".....thank you ...for the wonderful concert you gave for us.... We have received so many comments on the excellence of your performance and choice of programme........ thoroughly enjoyed the evening..... thank you again!"
Dewsbury and Batley committee, Macmillan Cancer Support.
Re. Concert on 4th May 2013
'I have just spent a wonderful couple of hours listening to French music performed by the superb St. Peter's Consort, directed by Tom Moore, with Daniel Justin on the organ. Definitely an evening well spent!'
'it was a fantastic evening'
"a superb evening and well done to all the performers"
"the balance of voices was spot on""
"I was most impressed by the Debussy songs"
2020
"one of Yorkshire's premier chamber choirs"
Philip Collin
BA (Hons) in Music (with Organ Scholarship) at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.
Post Graduate Diploma in Piano Accompaniment at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Associate of the Royal College of Organists.
in his programme notes for his first concert as Artistic Director for Halifax Choral Society