Continuing their 200th Anniversary celebrations, Ipswich Choral Society return to Ipswich Corn Exchange to perform Handel’s choral masterpiece ‘Messiah’ on 14th December. It is one of the most performed works in the Society’s history, with excerpts first sung at a concert by the choir in 1825.
Joining Ipswich Choral Society for this performance are special guests Ipswich Chamber Choir, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Celebrating 25 years as President of Ipswich Choral Society, Cem Mansur will conduct both choirs, along with soloists from the Royal Academy of Music and the ICS Festival orchestra. Ipswich Choral Society is excited to introduce four young soloists from the Royal Academy of Music, soprano Caroline Blair, alto Oryna Veselovska, tenor Matthew Cooke and bass Tom Butler. All the soloists are supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. Accompanying all the singers is the ICS Festival orchestra, led by Michael Dolan.
Ipswich Corn Exchange is the venue that has hosted the most concerts of ‘Messiah’ by Ipswich Choral Society. Reviewing the choir archive, the concert on 14th December will be the twenty first performance of ‘Messiah’ by the Society at the Corn Exchange. The Public Hall which stood on Westgate Street opened in 1868 with seating for 1,500 people. It was a popular venue for Ipswich Choral Society concerts, with ‘Messiah’ performed there sixteen times, until it was closed in 1948.
Other locations for Ipswich Choral Society ‘Messiah’ performances include the New Assembly Rooms in Northgate Street which opened in 1821; local churches such as St Mary-le-Tower, St Lawrence’s, St Michael’s, St Matthew’s and St Augustine’s as well as the Regent Theatre and Hippodrome Theatre in Ipswich. Further afield Ipswich Choral Society also performed ‘Messiah’ at Stowmarket Corn Exchange, Felixstowe Spa Pavilion and Snape Maltings Concert Hall for the choir’s 180th anniversary.
As one of the best-known choral works Handel’s ‘Messiah’ holds a special place in the hearts of singers and audiences alike. With this performance, Ipswich Choral Society pays homage to the many singers who have sung with the choir since 1824. For the audience, it promises to be a fantastic evening and certainly not to be missed!
Handel’s Messiah
Saturday 14 December 2024, 7.00pm
Ipswich Corn Exchange, IP1 1DH
- Ipswich Choral Society
- Cem Mansur Conductor
- Special guests Ipswich Chamber Choir
- Soloists from the Royal Academy of Music
- Caroline Blair Soprano | Oryna Veselovska Alto
- Matthew Cooke Tenor | Tom Butler Bass
- ICS Festival Orchestra
Tickets (includes booking fee): Full £22, U16s £11
Available from the Corn Exchange Box Office tel: 01473 433100 or online ipswichtheatres.co.uk
The Royal Academy of Music soloists are supported by the Josephine Baker Trust.
