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If you’ve always wanted to stand up for the thrilling Hallelujah chorus, as King George II did at its premiere in 1742, now’s your chance.  The region’s leading large classical choir, the 150-strong Worcester Festival Choral Society, is bringing this exciting music to Worcester when it performs Handel’s Messiah at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 7th December at 7.30pm.

One of the world’s most popular choral works, Handel’s Messiah is packed with well-known choruses including For unto us a child is born, and stunning solo arias such as the trumpet-accompanied The trumpets shall sound.

Joining Worcester Festival Choral Society are internationally acclaimed soloists (pictured from top left, clockwise): soprano Susanna Fairbairn, baritone Njabulo Madlala, mezzo soprano Joyce Tindsley and tenor Nick Pritchard. Accompanying is the Meridian Sinfonia, playing period-pitch instruments. Worcester Cathedral’s director of music, Samuel Hudson, conducts. 

Ben Cooper, Chairman of Worcester Festival Choral Society, said: “Hearing Handel’s Messiah is thrilling. It’s an occasion you never forget. No wonder people look forward to it every year!”

Established in 1861 and closely associated with Sir Edward Elgar in its early years, Worcester Festival Choral Society’s auditioned singers are selected from across the County. Today the society stages three major concerts in Worcester Cathedral each year, performing some of the world’s ‘great choral works’. 

Messiah tickets – and the chance to opt-in to a pre-concert dinner prize draw run with Côte Brasserie Worcester – can be booked at www.wfcs.online. Tickets also from Worcester Live: 01905 611427.