Messiah Reimagined
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MESSIAHREIMAGINED MONDAY 5 APRIL 2021, 7PM St George’s, Hanover Square, London W1S 1FX LUCY IESTYN NATHAN EDWARD CROWE DAVIES VALE GRINT soprano alto tenor bass-baritone LAURENCE ADRIAN LONDON HANDEL CUMMINGS BUTTERFIELD ORCHESTRA conductor leader Handel’s Church St George’s Church, Hanover Square Mayfair community, St George’s tries to be St George Street, London W1S 1FX responsive not only to the needs of those that www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org live or work in the area, but also to those who simply pass by. Eight years ago, in partnership St George’s was built between 1721 and 1724 to with the Cabmen’s Shelter on the northern side the design of John James, one of Christopher of Hanover Square, the church embarked on Wren’s assistants, as one of 50 churches for the a feeding programme for the homeless in our Cities of London and Westminster by Act of midst. As a result homeless people no longer Parliament in 1711. It cost just £10,000 (about just pass by but come into the church along £850,000 in today’s terms). with worshippers, cultural tourists, concert During two and a half centuries St George’s givers and attenders, and those who simply has been a centre of musical activities from come in for a moment’s quiet reflection in their the time of Thomas Roseingrave, appointed busy lives. the church’s first organist in 1725, to our own Soon this mix of people coming to St George’s day and the present musical director, Simon will change still further, as those emerging from Williams. In 1978 the then organist, Denys the new Crossrail station in Hanover Square Darlow, founded the London Handel Festival. and heading south walk down St George The church was built when Handel was in his Street. It is with this growing, complex and thirties. In 1723 he rented a house nearby in ever-changing social mélange in mind that St Brook Street and remained there until his death George’s has taken the bold decision to open in 1759. He was often to be seen in the church, up its Undercroft. especially in his later years, and this makes St This attractive vaulted space beneath the George’s a particularly appropriate venue for church, with a floor area greater than that of the London Handel Festival. the church itself, has historically been used for The past 10 years have seen an extraordinary storage. The ambitious and exciting plan is to period of restoration and renewal at St turn an unloved and under-utilised space into a George’s. In 2010 comprehensive repair and vibrant, accessible, multi-purpose venue. This refurbishment of the interior of the church has been a mammoth endeavour and will shape took place and in 2012 a brand new organ was how St George’s is used in future generations. installed. The process of planning, crafting, The church’s vision is driven by three aims: to and then installing a first class organ (by generate sufficient funds to support its own and Richards, Fowkes & Company of Tennessee) others’ work with the homeless; to improve its took a full four years and after its dedication accessibility to everyone; and to expand the to the glory of God and a superb inaugural range of its activities. recital in October 2012, those now coming to Work on converting the space and providing the church as worshippers or concert-goers access to it from the church and street has are able to hear the results of these labours now been completed and discussions are for themselves. In January 2013 St George’s underway with potential catering partners. and its sister church, the Grosvenor Chapel, launched a combined weekly lunchtime recital series known as Mayfair Organ Concerts. Both churches are delighted that the 2020 London Handel Festival will once more incorporate recitals in this series into its own programme. But the work of St George’s is not all musical! As an enduring presence at the heart of the Handel Supporters We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following individuals and organisations: Messiah Reimagined Supporters Patrons Circle Anon Ian Adams John Chown Moya Duffy Nigel Fletcher and Caroline Burton Judith Ingham Bernard Jeffcote Dr Alan King Janice Liverseidge North London Chorus Andrew Packman Marilyn Stock Kathryn Uhde Major Supporters Aaron Watkins John Wotton London Handel Society Endowment Fund – Founding Gift in Memory of Howard and Nan Hopkin Benefactors Adrian and Jane Frost Jane Cooke Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund Deborah Finkler Darwin Escapes Dr Madeleine Gantley Richard Hopkin Ellen and John Harris Maecenas Trust David Hodges Nigel and Françoise Jones Carol Seymour-Newton Director’s Circle Melissa Scott Louise Fluker Teresa de Souza Michael George Chris Tupker Michael Holley Richard Hopkin The Associate Benefactors and Friends Richard Moat and Mary Collins of the London Handel Society and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. Richard and Buffy Moyse Peter and Edwina Wardle Acknowledgements London Handel Society Founder Conductor Denys Darlow Incorporating Musical Director Laurence Cummings London Handel Festival Associate Director/Leader Adrian Butterfield London Handel Orchestra Festival Director Samir Savant London Handel Singers Festival Assistant Harry Palmer boxoffice@ London Handel Players londonhandelfestival.org.uk Promoted by the Orchestra Manager Anne-Marie Norman London Handel Society Ltd Music Preparation Peter Jones Registered Charity no. 269184 The Board of Directors of the Public Relations London Handel Festival would like to thank all those involved Premier Comms in Messiah Reimagined and is very grateful to our community Design of donors and those who have Baxter and Bailey supported the London Handel Festival philanthropically. Programme Patrons Design Creative Melon Notes Katie Hawks Dame Emma Kirkby Ian Partridge CBE We extend special thanks to all the performers, Board of Directors including our new collaborations with our Chairman Richard Hopkin choral partners and our 'Sing at Home' chorus. Deputy Chairman Michael Holley Thanks also to the production and technical Treasurer Vicki Harrison team, and to the many volunteers who give Ian Adams their time and skill to ensure the ongoing Greg Batsleer success of the Festival. Judith Ingham Rachel Lawrence This performance is dedicated to the Janice Liverseidge memory of Michael Ewart (1960 – 2021) Andrew Packman Melissa Scott Rebecca Young Choirs SING-AT-HOME CHORUS SCHOLAS BONOR PASTOR FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP GUILDHALL SCHOOL JUNIOR DEPARTMENT CHAMBER CHOIR HARVARD UNIVERSITY CHOIR, USA MUSIC IN OFFICES NDR CHOIR (NORTH GERMAN RADIO CHOIR) NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIRS OF GREAT BRITAIN OTTOWA BACH CHOIR, CANADA SCUNTHORPE & DISTRICT CHORAL SOCIETY SCUNTHORPE COOPERATIVE JUNIOR CHOIR CHOIR OF ST GEORGE’S HANOVER SQUARE OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE TRINITY LABAN CHAPEL CHOIR TEXAS STATE CHORALE (TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY), USA YORK UNIVERSITY CHAMBER CHOIR, CANADA Samir Savant Festival Director Dear Audience Members, Thank you for joining us for this unique We have managed to pull through, with performance of Messiah Reimagined, huge thanks to our donors for their ongoing organised by the London Handel Festi- support. Since national lockdown started, val. Each year, we present a performance we have, somewhat miraculously, managed of Handel’s choral masterpiece from St to put on three events, - one live and two George’s, Hanover Square, the beautiful via live-stream. The latter two, the Final of Georgian church in the heart of London our International Handel Singing Compe- where Handel himself worshipped. Follow- tition and our award-winning Messiah Re- ing the success of our first award-winning imagined. Messiah Reimagined performance last De- Luckily, the Festival had a huge amount of cember which was viewed by over a quarter support from our Trustees, to work on our of a million people worldwide, we return with another performance, keeping things a little different. The soloists and London Handel Orches- tra will perform live under the direction of Laurence Cummings – and the chorus- es are pre-recorded and will be integrated digitally into the streamed performance. We are pleased to be joined by fifteen choirs, comprising some 500 singers, including our ‘Stay at Home’ “all comers” chorus from sixteen countries across five continents! 2020 was certainly a turbulent year for the Festival, indeed for all the performing arts. © Angelo © Angelo Hornak finances and secure the future of the Festi- sure we can look forward later this year to val for the time being, as well as our audi- full churches and concert halls for our live ence members, two thirds of whom opted events, but for now we face an uncertain to convert their ticket purchases into full financial future, so if you are able to help or partial donations. I am so very grateful with any donations, or connections to, or to all these generous individuals for their ideas for sources of philanthropic income, spontaneous support, and pleased that we please visit our website www.london-han- were able to pass all of the donated funds del-festival.com/support-us/. received directly to the performers. Many We have been delighted with the reaction of the Festival’s artists are freelancers, and to our innovative Messiah Reimagined, and the impact on their work during lockdown so encouraged by all the enthusiasm for it has been almost unthinkable. that we recommend you keep an eye out We are so pleased to bring you Messiah for another performance planned towards Reimagined as a free live-streamed event the end of 2021. If you would like to sing this evening, which will also be available to with us on that occasion in our ‘Sing at view on our YouTube channel afterwards - Home’ chorus, please visit our website in www.youtube.com/londonhandelfestival. the coming weeks to book a place - www.