| Main Performers | Richard Pearce - organ
Keri Fuge,
Madeleine Shaw,
Jamie MacDougall,
James Platt - vocals |
| Orchestra or Band | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) |
| Set List | 'Messiah', G F Handel (Royal Choral Society) |
| Performance Notes | He is the master of us all, Joseph Haydn is alleged to have said on hearing the Hallelujah chorus from Handels Messiah. The work has never lost its popularity, and the Royal Choral Societys performances on Good Friday each year have grown into something of a national event.
The choir first performed Handels Messiah in its opening season in 1872, but it was in 1876 that the first Good Friday performance took place at the Royal Albert Hall, and has been repeated every year since then with the exception of wartime (1940/1) and the recent pandemic (2020). A reduced performance accompanied on the Royal Albert Hall organ took place in May 2021.
The Royal Choral Societys 146th performance of Handels Messiah on Good Friday marks the beginning of the choirs year-long 150th anniversary celebrations. Britains favourite choral masterpiece will be conducted by Royal Choral Society Music Director Richard Cooke, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, organist Richard Pearce and a quartet of superb soloists. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/2022/13) |