Dear Supporter,
Our next concert is only a few weeks away on Saturday 26th April. We hope to see you at St John's Church, Epping CM16 5DN, 7.30pm, when Sarah Tenant-Flowers will conduct the Chorus, soloists and British Sinfonietta orchestra in Handel's mighty oratorio JUDAS MACCABAEUS.
Written in 1747, Judas Maccabaeus tells the story of an oppressed people's struggle and eventual triumphant liberation in music of high drama and glorious pageantry. Full of rousing choruses, ravishing duets and fiery arias this is Handel at his heroic best. It's most famous tune, 'See, the conqu'ring hero comes' was actually written for Handel's next oratorio, Joshua, but proved so popular that he added it to Judas in 1751 where it has remained ever since. Handel's audience could readily identify with the anxieties and triumphs of a 'chosen people' under the threat of rebellion at home and invasion from abroad (the Jacobite Rising had just been put down), as did the audiences for the next two centuries who made it second only to Messiah in popularity. It is also eerily resonant today.
Meanwhile, we said farewell to Edward Rhys-Harry after our Christmas concert since when our committee has been pondering the credentials of applicants for the post of Harlow Chorus Musical Director (Sarah is with us until our summer concert on 12th July). After interviews, four candidates have been invited to audition, at rehearsals tonight and next Monday, an hour each for choir members to experience their approach and also for the candidates to assess our level. Exciting times! We hope to announce the result by the beginning of April but it sounds as though it will be a very difficult decision as all four are excellent prospects.
Tickets for the Judas Maccabaeus experience are £15, under 18s £5, avaiable from our box office via email at tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk or phone 01277 362440; also online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
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