The UK's largest choral society, The Really Big Chorus, will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary this Sunday (30 November) by bringing together 4,000 voices for two performances of Handel's Messiah.
Brian Kay will conduct almost 3,000 singers in the great work in the chorus's annual Messiah From Scratch performance at 7pm at the Royal Albert Hall. The evening will also include an auction for the opportunity to conduct the 'Hallelujah Chorus' during the performance, the proceeds of which will go to British Heart Foundation.
The second performance, aking place earlier in the day on Sunday, will be the Scratch Youth Messiah. 1,200 youngsters will be tackling Handel's masterpiece under Suzi Digby's baton in a concert to raise money for WaterAid.
Founded in 1974 by Canadian engineer and amateur clarinettist Don Monro, The Really Big Chorus brings together thousands of vocalists worldwide to sing in London’s Royal Albert Hall every year. Both the Scratch Youth Messiah and the Messiah from Scratch singers are asked to learn the music in their own time and take part in just one rehearsal with the orchestra before the final performance.
Both performances will be recorded by Abbey Road Live for a double CD, which will be available to buy shortly after the concerts.
Lucinda Chaudhuri
Photo: Don & Ann Monro
The Scratch Youth Messiah takes place at 2pm on Sunday 30 November. Messiah from Scratch will start at 7pm on the same day. Visit: royalalberthall.com for details
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