East Sussex Bach Choir offer New Year concert

East Sussex Bach Choir will be celebrating the New Year with a performance of Handel’s Messiah at Lewes Town Hall at 6.30pm on Saturday, January 8.
Alexandra KidgellAlexandra Kidgell
Alexandra Kidgell

Spokeswoman Val Davies said: “The choir will be accompanied by the Baroque Collective (leader Alison Bury) conducted by John Hancorn, with soloists Alexandra Kidgell (soprano), Rebecca Leggett (alto), Andrew Wicks (tenor) and Ben Davies (bass). We are particularly excited to welcome Alexandra and Ben, both of whom are members of the internationally renowned vocal ensemble The Sixteen, to perform with the choir.

“Messiah is such a well-loved work that it is often overlooked that the oratorio was composed at a difficult time in Handel’s career as a renowned opera composer. Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1741 following a commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Dublin for Handel to write a work to be performed in aid of local charities. The first performance in London was at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1743. Handel often gave performances of the work for charity, particularly for the Foundlings Hospital, to which he bequeathed the score and parts in his will.”

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“Tickets at £25, £20 and £15 (under 16 free) are available online from eastsussexbachchoir.org with a limited number of tickets for sale on the door.

“In order to protect the safety of our audience and the performers, we will be asking everyone to wear masks and where possible take a lateral flow test before attending the concert. Audience numbers will be restricted to allow for social distancing in the seating arrangements.”

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