| Main Performers | Grace Dives,
Annette Bisdorff,
Richard Frewer,
Noel Noble - vocals,
Donald Ray - organ,
Howard Williams - continuo,
Peter Clowes - trumpet |
| Performance Notes | This was the first 'Scratch' concert held at the Hall. The event was organised by four academic scientists who advertised for ordinary members of the public to perform 'Messiah' without rehearsals, just to see what would happen. Dr David Burgess, one of the founders of 'Music from Scratch' believed that putting on an unrehearsed event was like putting on a party, and if a good performance came out of it, so much the better, but whatever happened everyone should have a good time. Around 2,500 singers and 250 instrumentalists turned up on the night and Gavin Parks, another of the organisers, made his debut as conductor. The occasion was televised, judged a success and became a regular event.
In 1979, Sir David Willcocks became the conductor and took the concerts from strength to strength, expanding the repertoire to include requiems by Brahms, Mozart, Fauré and Verdi alongside performances of Orffs Carmina Burin, Elgars Dream of Gerontius and Vivaldis Gloria. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1974/172) |