NO Christmas would be complete without listening to Handel’s Messiah, according to Redland City Choir conductor Anita Taylor.
The choir will present the beloved oratorio as its Christmas offering, staging two performances at 2pm and 7.30pm on December 13 at the Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland.
The production will be conducted by Jacob Cavanough and features soloists soprano Anita Taylor, contralto Ron Morris, tenor Elliott Beauchamp and bass Harrison Hammett.
More than 20 selected instrumentalists will accompany the choir.
The performance is a collaboration with students from the Conservatorium of Music and Brisbane Girls Grammar School, bringing together community voices and emerging artists.
Ms Taylor said she was excited by what the partnership would deliver.
“I can’t wait to see the outcome. It is a real honour to work together with music students, specialists and the community. I think the performance will be inspiring,” she said.
Describing the Messiah as a “sword piercing the heart”, Ms Taylor said the work carried deep emotional weight.
“It is a powerful story and can bring you to tears listening to it. This is the whole Christmas story told in music. No other oratorio does that,” she said.
“To me, this is heavenly music that comes from heaven. It is timeless and tells a timeless story.
“This is made more powerful when the story is told by such a diverse group. The choir has worked so hard. I feel so proud.
“The other night, I was brought to tears by the Amens at the end. I’ve never heard it sung with such ownership by a community choir before. Everything just fell into place. You can’t fake that.”
This will be the second time the choir has tackled the Messiah, having last performed it in 2017.
“I wanted to do this again to challenge the choir. It is a difficult work, and the choir sings every type of part. It’s like everyone in the choir gets a solo,” Ms Taylor said.
The Messiah includes the famous Hallelujah Chorus, traditionally sung with the audience standing.
The full performance runs for two hours and 20 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Tickets are $49 for adults, with seniors, pensioners and children priced at $45.
Bookings can be made at rpac.com.au, by phoning 3829 8131 or visiting the RPAC box office.
