THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER, 7PM St George’s, Hanover Square, London W1S 1FX JOANNE HELEN WILLIAM TIMOTHY LUNN CHARLSTON WALLACE NELSON soprano alto tenor bass-baritone LAURENCE ADRIAN LONDON CUMMINGS BUTTERFIELD HANDEL conductor leader ORCHESTRA 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 the design of John James, one of Christopher side of Hanover Square, the church embarked Wren’s assistants, as one of 50 churches for the on a feeding programme for the homeless in Cities of London and Westminster by Act of our midst. As a result homeless people no Parliament in 1711. It cost just £10,000 (about longer just pass by but come into the church £850,000 in today’s terms). along with worshippers, cultural tourists, During two and a half centuries St George’s concert givers and attenders, and those who has been a centre of musical activities from simply come in for a moment’s quiet reflection the time of Thomas Roseingrave, appointed in their 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 Williams. In 1978 the then organist, Denys from the new Crossrail station in Hanover Darlow, founded the London Handel Festival. Square and heading south walk down St The church was built when Handel was in George Street. It is with this growing, complex his thirties. In 1723 he rented a house nearby and ever-changing social mélange in mind in Brook Street and remained there until his that St George’s has taken the bold decision to death in 1759. He was often to be seen in the open up its Undercroft. church, especially in his later years, and this This attractive vaulted space beneath the makes St George’s a particularly appropriate church, with a floor area greater than that of venue for the London Handel Festival. the church itself, has historically been used The past 10 years have seen an extraordinary for storage. The ambitious and exciting plan period of restoration and renewal at St is to turn an unloved and under-utilised space George’s. In 2010 comprehensive repair and into a vibrant, accessible, multi-purpose refurbishment of the interior of the church venue. This has been a mammoth endeavour took place and in 2012 a brand new organ was and will shape how St George’s is used in installed. The process of planning, crafting, future generations. The church’s vision is and then installing a first class organ (by driven by three aims: to generate sufficient Richards, Fowkes & Company of Tennessee) funds to support its own and others’ work took a full four years and after its dedication with the homeless; to improve its accessibility to the glory of God and a superb inaugural to everyone; and to expand the range of its recital in October 2012, those now coming to activities. the church as worshippers or concert-goers Work on converting the space and providing are able to hear the results of these labours access to it from the church and street has now for themselves. In January2013 St George’s been completed and discussions are underway and its sister church, the Grosvenor Chapel, with potential catering partners. 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: Major Supporters Patrons Circle London Handel Society Endowment Fund – Anon Founding Gift in Memory of Howard and Nan Ian Adams Hopkin John Chown Adrian and Jane Frost Mary Deissler Darwin Escapes Nigel Fletcher and Caroline Burton Richard Hopkin Michael George Arts Council England Judith Ingham Maecenas Trust Bernard Jeffcote The Miss Pamela Charman Trust Andrew Packman Anthony Davis Marilyn Stock Kathryn Uhde Director’s Circle Aaron Watkins Louise Fluker John Wotton Michael Holley Dr Alan King Benefactors Richard Moat and Mary Collins Jane Cooke Richard and Buffy Moyse Moya Duffy Matthew Taylor Dr Madeleine Gantley Peter and Edwina Wardle David Hodges Nigel and Françoise Jones Janice Liverseidge Carol Seymour-Newton Melissa Scott Teresa de Souza Chris Tupker The Associate Benefactors and Friends of the London Handel Society and other donors who wish to remain anonymous 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 Administrator Andrea Lee London Handel Players [email protected] Orchestra Manager Anne-Marie Norman Promoted by the London Handel Society Ltd Music Preparation Peter Jones Registered Charity no. 269184 Public Relations The Board of Directors of the Premier London Handel Festival would like to thank all those involved Design in Messiah Reimagined and is very grateful to our community Baxter and Bailey of donors and those who have Programme supported the London Handel Festival philanthropically. Design Creative Melon Notes Katie Hawks Patrons We extend special thanks to all the performers, including our Dame Emma Kirkby new collaborations with our choral partners and our 'Sing at Ian Partridge CBE Home' chorus. Thanks also to the production and technical team, and to the many volunteers who give their time and Board of Directors and skill to ensure the ongoing success of the Festival. Richard Hopkin Chairman Choirs Michael Holley Deputy Chairman Vicki Harrison Treasurer SING-AT-HOME CHORUS Laurence Cummings, Musical Director Ian Adams RODOLFUS FOUNDATION CHOIR Greg Batsleer Ralph Allwood, Musical Director Judith Ingham NORTH LONDON CHORUS Murray Hipkin, Musical Director & Rachel Lawrence FINCHLEY CHORAL SOCIETY Grace Rossiter, Musical Director Janice Liverseidge HUDDERSFIELD CHORAL SOCIETY Andrew Packman Gregory Batsleer, Musical Director Melissa Scott PIMLICO MUSICAL FOUNDATION, & TIFFIN BOYS CHOIR & TIFFIN CHAMBER CHOIR James Day, Artistic Director Rebecca Young KINGS COLLEGE LONDON CHOIR Joseph Fort, Musical Director CHOIR OF ST GEORGE’S, HANOVER SQUARE Simon Williams, Musical Director Samir Savant Festival Director Dear Audience Members, Thank you for joining us for this unique we received the fateful news about the performance of Messiah Reimagined, imminent lockdown, and we had no organised by the London Handel choice but to cancel the remainder of Festival. Each December, we present the Festival. The effect was devastating, a performance of Handel’s choral not only for the Festival itself, but for the masterpiece from St George’s, Hanover artists involved, who were all stood down Square, the beautiful Georgian church in at the last minute. the heart of London where Handel himself Luckily, the Festival had a huge amount worshipped. This year, because of the of support from our Trustees, to work on Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing things our finances and secure the future of the differently – the soloists and London Festival for the time being, as well as our Handel Orchestra will perform live under the direction of Laurence Cummings – and the choruses are pre-recorded and will be integrated digitally into the streamed performance. We are pleased to be joined by nine choirs, comprising some 400 singers, including our ‘Stay at Home’ “all comers” chorus from sixteen countries across five continents! It has been a sad year for the London Handel Festival. In mid-March this year we were a third of the way through this year’s Festival with its engaging theme of ‘Handel and the Hanoverians’ when © Angelo © Angelo Hornak audience members, two thirds of whom to you all in these dark times. We are opted to convert their ticket purchases sure we can look forward next year to full into full or partial donations. I am so very churches and concert halls for our live grateful to all these generous individuals events, but for now we face an uncertain for their spontaneous support, and financial future, so if you are able to help pleased that we were able to pass all of with any donations, or connections to, or the donated funds received directly to the ideas for sources of philanthropic income, performers. Many of the Festival’s artists please visit our website www.london- are freelancers, and the impact on their handel-festival.com/support-us/ or e-mail work during lockdown has been almost directly with your ideas - festivaldirector@ unthinkable. londonhandelfestival.org.uk. We are so pleased to bring you Messiah We have been delighted with the reaction Reimagined as a free live-streamed to our innovative Messiah Reimagined, event this evening, which will also and so encouraged by all the enthusiasm be available to view on our YouTube for it that we are doing it all again on channel afterwards - www.youtube.com/ Easter Monday (5 April 2021), so please londonhandelfestival. We are sorry that put a note in your diary. If you would like we could not have a live audience, but to sing with us on that occasion in our it would be too difficult to us to manage ‘Sing at Home’ chorus, please visit our with the changing lockdown situation in website to book a place - the United Kingdom.