A CHORAL masterpiece composed by a German musical genius and premiered in Birmingham in 1846 is coming to Redditch.
Packed with stirring choruses and uplifting music Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah is to be performed by the nationally acclaimed Redditch Choral Society at St Stephen’s Church in the town centre on Saturday, June 17.
Sadly the society’s musical director Alma Bright Clarke passed away last Monday, at the age of 90, but her son Kenneth, himself a professional musician has picked up the baton and the show will go on.
And what a performance it promises to be: Alma has assembled a glittering array of soloists for the evening, including international stars Maria Jagusz as mezzo soprano and Katie Leaver, a former pupil of Alma’s, as soprano.
Completing the line up are the tenor Brett Elesmore, bass Peter Wilde-Willcock, another of Alma’s former pupils, and Sophie Edkins and Emily Tyrrell from within the Redditch Choral Society .
They’ll be backed by a professional orchestra under the baton of conductor Peter Bridle.
“The oratorio ‘Elijah’ is the most popular of all Mendelssohn’s compositions and depicts events in the life of the Biblical prophet Elijah, taken from the Old Testament,” said Brijdget Quinn from the society.
“The combination of great soloists, the professional orchestra and the experienced choir, all in the setting of St Stephen’s Church, will, we hope, provide an uplifting and memorable night.”
Tickets are just £12 (concessions £10) including tea/coffee and are available from the bookshop at St Stephen’s Church, Redditch, or from the ticket secretary on 07794 362956.
