Virtual Sing at Home Messiah
Live-streamed performance Thursday 3 December, 7pm
St George’s, Hanover Square
Each December we present a sold-out performance of Handel’s Messiah in the composer’s own church, St.George’s Hanover Square in London’s Mayfair. This year, because of restrictions around live performances, it will be different; the movements for orchestra and soloists will be performed live in the church, but the choruses will be pre-recorded by partner choirs from around the country, including a special ‘Sing at Home’ all-comers amateur choir. The whole event will be live-streamed and promises to be ground-breaking and historic, with the aim of involving several hundred singers and an on-line audience of thousands.
Come and be part of our special ‘Sing at Home’ virtual chorus as part of our unique live-streamed performance on 3 December. The ‘Sing at Home’ chorus will, on an individual basis, be asked to prepare and record three choruses from Messiah – ‘And the glory’, ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ and the magnificent ‘Hallelujah!’ chorus. Please note that you will need to supply your own score – all major editions are acceptable.
Each choir member will have access to a backing track specially recorded by the London Handel Orchestra. Rehearsing at home, you will have the benefit of three tailored online rehearsal sessions with Laurence Cummings, our Musical Director and leading baroque conductor. Choir members will work towards submitting a recording of themselves for inclusion in a professionally produced video and integrated into the live performance on 3 December.
Clear and easy instructions on how to record your video will be sent to you in early September, along with the relevant backing tracks, and you will also receive a special invitation to a live panel discussions, with Laurence and other choral directors, and also some the country’s leading experts on the work.
The ‘Sing at Home’ chorus is open to anyone, although we do ask participants to be able to sight read and have some choral experience. There are a limited number of places available, with even distribution across parts, so do book as soon as possible. As usual, we encourage lower voices (tenor, bass) to join us.
Please also be aware that videos will need to be submitted no later than midnight on 4 October 2020 and we cannot guarantee to include any received after this date.
The ‘Sing at Home’ chorus will form part of the virtual choir for this historic and ground-breaking event, along with selected choral partners from across the country. The whole performance on 3 December will be live-streamed free to audiences around the world, and there will also be an opportunity to buy tickets for the live event (tickets are not yet on sale).
For further information, please download this Frequently Asked Questions sheet – Sing at Home – special virtual Messiah.