The Messiah, Uppermill Civic Hall

Saddleworth Male Voice Choir performed Handel’s Messiah to a full-house at Uppermill Civic Hall.

For those wanting a traditional large-scale performance the evening didn’t disappoint.

The ranks of the SMVC were swelled by ladies drawn from choirs around and all were equally committed to the enterprise.

They had been well trained by the director of music, Damian Cunningham. The balance was excellent, intonation good, and the agility of all sections in the convoluted semiquaver runs Handel wrote in so many choruses was impressive — especially as the director gave no quarter in his chosen speeds.

The Pennine Orchestra accompanied with great effect under the evergreen leadership of Donald Clarke — this his 30th year in the role. Invidious really to pick anyone out, but the trumpet has a starring role and David Chapman was particularly brilliant this year.

The Royal Northern College of Music is a wonderful source of soloists for Oratorio performances in the North-West and all four this year have current or recent connections with it.

Soprano Katie Connor was not quite at her best this evening and experienced some problems of breath control, but the lovely quality of Emma Stannard’s alto more than compensated, especially in the aria “He was despised and rejected of men”.

Tenor David Shaw sailed easily to his high notes as he took a conventional approach to his busy role. Louis Hurst brought a dramatic and musical quality to his contribution which was at times electrifying. His interaction with the trumpet in “The Trumpet shall sound” was very fine.

We all went away feeling that justice had been done to the Old Testament texts that Handel had set to music in such a white heat some three centuries ago.

MW