Messiah performance proves a powerful experience

MESSIAH BY HANDEL at Cast, Doncaster (April 1)

MESSIAH BY HANDEL

at Cast, Doncaster

(April 1)

A PACKED audience at the Cast Theatre clearly had high expectations for this performance by Doncaster Choral Society on Saturday.

There was an added buzz in the air as the performance marked the 275th anniversary of the classic piece of music’s first performance in Dublin in 1742.

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With the acclaimed Simon Lindley conducting the National Festival Orchestra, and solo singing contribitions by Joanne Dexter (soprano), Margaret McDonald (alto), Richard Rowe (tenor) and Alan Fairs (bass), the performance certainly lived up to all the audience’s hopes.

It had power, style and an invigorating momentium that carried the long piece through to its dramatic conclusion.

As always the Doncaster Choral Society delivered to the standard for which it has quite rightly become respected.

In some ways it is hard to judge a performance of Messiah. The listener already knows it is a majestic and emotional work by one of the greatest composers so it isn’t really possible to consider the music impartially.

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The listener has to judge how performers interpet it and actually come up with the goods in a way that hits the audience and carries it along. I’m pleased to say that was achieved, as the rousing applause at the end of the show revealed all too clearly.

Cast was packed, a testament to the Society’s capacity to put on a great show.

ANTONY CLAY

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