Saturday, 7th February, saw the Phoenix Choir, Eastbourne, joined by the Phoenix Choir, Maastricht, to present Handel's Messiah at All Saints Church, Eastbourne, to a pleasingly full audience.

Messiah was conceived as a work for Easter, its world premiere being given during Lent at a music hall venue in Dublin, on April 13th, 1742.  It featured 50 musicians, evenly divided between members of the chorus and the orchestra. Later regular performances took place at London's Foundling Hospital.  It is often noted that Handel wrote the work in a breath-taking 24 days; however, he made alterations to the score throughout his life. The text was written by Charles Jennens, comprising passages from the Bible, and referred to as movements, that are grouped into three parts.

Conductor Michael Field's decision to use a small orchestra, playing baroque instruments, returning to Handel's original intention, worked perfectly.  From the opening Sinfony, I was hooked.  The orchestra, led by Andrew Roberts and consisting of Katherine Jerome, violin, Russ Robinson, viola, George Ross, cello and Rosie Moon, double bass, Mark Radcliffe and Sami White, oboes, all drew me in and gave me the delightful expectation of what was to come. First of the international singers was the American/Swiss tenor, David Munderloh, drawing us in to the story with "Comfort ye, my people' and the Air, “Every valley shall be exalted”.

The choir, opening with “And the Glory of the Lord”, sang with real feeling and expression, engaging fully with the text and blending well vocally.  The first part of the oratorio deals with God's plan to redeem mankind through a Messiah and brings us to the birth of Christ.  On the journey, we welcome the Bass who tells us of the forthcoming desired Messiah.  Bass, Jussi Lehtipuu, from Finland, richly told this story and then alto Dina Picon, from Basel, Switzerland, enveloped us with her warm, rich voice as she continued the journey, prophesying the birth of the Christ.  The chorus gave their very best in “For unto us a child is born” and all had radiant smiles and uplifted voices when they reached “Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”.  

Then to the pastoral Symphony.  Oh, I totally fell in love with the exquisite playing by Andrew Roberts, leading the strings.  His solo accompaniment of the singers is also to be highly complimented.  Beautiful.  Our own, Eastbourne soprano, Ansy Boothroyd, then regaled us with two recitatives, an accompagnato and two Airs, “Rejoice Greatly” and with the alto, “He shall feed his flock” and “Come unto him”.  After the choir’s rendition of “His Yoke is Easy” and the interval, we were into Part Two, covering the death and resurrection of Christ.  My personal favourite Air in the whole piece, “He was despised” was sung with perfect line and a total interaction with the text and passion by Dina Picon - a singer to watch!   I have to say here that all the soloists sang their pieces with total commitment, bringing the audience into their personal space and imbuing the words with meaning that conveyed them wholly to our understanding.  The choir ended Part Two with a thoroughly rousing “Hallelujah”!
 

Part Three emphasises the promise of resurrection and glorification of Christ and eternal life.   Ansy Boothroyd delivered this beautifully through “I know that my Redeemer Liveth”, with her soaring top notes and interaction with the audience.  Bass Jussi Lehtipuu gave his all with “The trumpet shall Sound”, with the trumpet solo beautifully played by Tamsin Cowell.  The chorus brought us to a perfect end with the intricate, contrapuntal “Amen”.  Mention must be made of the added orchestra, Trumpet, Crispian Steele Perkins, Timpani, Evelyn Tubb, Organ, Kiele Sacco, Harpsichord, Gavin Stevens and Archlute, Michael Fields - all filling the church with amazing sound.  I left feeling that in spite of all the dreadful situation of the world currently, we still have beauty and love, and the soul can be assured of the innate goodness of humanity being ever present.