Handel's Messiah
The internationally renowned Christ Church Cathedral Choir are joined by a stellar cast of acclaimed soloists for this performance of Handel’s majestic oratorio, directed by Peter Holder.
Performers
Harriet Burns - Soprano
Katie Bray - Mezzo-Soprano
Nick Pritchard - Tenor
Thomas Humphreys - Baritone
Peter Holder - Director
Christ Church Cathedral Choir
The Wolsey Ensemble
No Christmas would be complete without Messiah. Within just a few decades of its premiere in Dublin in 1742 (by performers including the choir of our counterpart Christ Church Cathedral), the piece became an annual international phenomenon. It has remained so ever since.
For his sixth oratorio, equipped with a libretto compiled from the Bible by his collaborator Charles Jennens, Handel took on his most ambitious narrative yet: the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ, crowned by humanity’s final triumph over sin and death. The resulting music perfectly captures the drama, mystery and joy of the Christian story in beautiful solo arias, effervescent orchestral textures, and thrilling choruses - including one of the most recognisable pieces of music on Earth, the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. Join us in the beautiful surrounds of Christ Church Cathedral and enjoy this festive delight!
Approximate run time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
Booking
Booking opens later in September, at which point a link will be posted here.
Venue Access
Our address is Christ Church, St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DP. To reach the Cathedral, please go to the St Aldates entrance to the college, underneath Tom tower. From there, you will be directed to cross over the quadrangle to the Cathedral. Step free access to the Cathedral is available via the same route.
Parking
We are unable to offer parking to visitors. The nearest Blue Badge parking spaces are immediately outside Tom Gate, with more opposite in Pembroke Square. Paid parking is available at Oxpens (OX1 1RQ) and the Westgate Shopping Centre (OX1 1TR), though we would recommend using the Park and Ride schemes, which often prove the easiest way to travel into the city centre.
