What’s on Yorkshire: Mendelssohn’s Elijah will be performed at St George’s Hall – tickets on sale now
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a classical music buff, or you’ve never heard a choral piece in your life, this will be a terrific concert to savour.
Bradford’s very own ‘people’s choir’ – Bradford Festival Choral Society - has been invited to be part of Bradford Theatre’s Orchestral Season and will perform Mendelssohn’s Elijah, at St George’s Hall, Bradford, on Saturday March 16th starting at 7.30pm.
With the 130-strong choir and the outstanding Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra this powerful piece, which got a rousing reception when it was recently performed at the BBC Proms, will be a night to remember. Tickets are on sale now and range from £7.75 for the under 30s, to between £17.75 to £34.75 at www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
If Londoners can fill the Royal Albert Hall then the Bradford choir is hoping to see Yorkshire folk flock to fill St George’s and show the county’s pride and support for incredible local musicians.
About the choir
The award-winning Bradford Festival Choral Society has a rich 167-year history. Mendelssohn’s Elijah was first performed in the city at the old Mechanics’ Institute in 1849 where it sold out – with factory workers and high society alike coming together for the music.
With this venue too small and the enthusiasm for choral music so great, the then Mayor of the city brought people together to create a concert hall and the ‘People’s Palace’ - St George’s Hall was built.
Bradford Festival Choral Society was founded as a direct result of the hall’s opening in 1853. When they sing Elijah in March they’ll be linking with history once more. Mendelssohn wrote a choral work specifically for the opening of St George’s Hall and BFCS formed from those first singers in 1856, just two years later, the choir was performing his music to Queen Victoria in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace.
The choir is now under the baton of Musical Director Thomas Leech. With numerous recording and broadcast credits he directs the internationally-acclaimed Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, overseeing a programme reaching 6500 children every week and is passionate about young people’s access to choral music – perhaps that’s one reason why BFCS members range from 15 to 93.
“Choirs flourish when the singers make great progress - I’ve got to be positive, encouraging and demanding! That’s when the music leaps off the page and into life.” he said.
About the music
Expect fire and brimstone, floods and famine – Elijah is an Old Testament tale absolutely packed with drama. You can expect rousing choruses, beautiful solo arias and spine-tingling orchestral music. It’s a piece which lets the choir sing their hearts out, soloists demonstrate their incredible voices and the orchestra fill the hall with musical colour.
Gareth John Brynmor is the renowned bass who will sing the part of Elijah – he was the 2013 winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award and studied at St John's College, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music; you may well have seen him on the BBC’s Carols from Kings for Christmas 2022.
Other soloists include the acclaimed Yorkshire mezzo-soprano Hannah Mason and dazzling soprano Sofia Livotov.
The audience should leave the concert full of feel-good endorphins, with a smile on their faces and the songs and music forever in their hearts.
About the venue
With 1200 seats to fill the challenge is on pack the hall – and a night to remember is promised for everyone. With ample parking nearby at the Crown Court access is easy and there are ramps and lifts for anyone with mobility issues. Although some seats may say ‘restricted view’ there really isn’t a bad seat in the house and the superb acoustics make it the perfect place to stage such a dramatic piece of music.
The concert programmes provide notes and lyrics to help you enjoy the performance, as well as full information about the performers, and families, young and old are welcome (and there’s no need to dress up!). The bar will be open before the performance (as well as during the 20 minute interval) and there is some musical accompaniment planned for your pre-concert drinks too, so get there early. The concert should last around two hours.
In the community
The choir is a registered charity. Its singers are all regular Yorkshire residents, from those who have not sung since school right through to professional musicians, and all are passionate and committed, working hard to rehearse for concerts. They meet at the Clock House, Bradford – part of Bradford Grammar School – where famous artist David Hockney was a pupil. Indeed they rehearse in a room which has a Hockney work on one wall, gifted to the school by the famous Bradfordian.
That’s not the only link with Hockney. The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra was originally established in 1947 and its fans included a young David and writer Alan Bennett. It has recently been reborn under conductor, founder and artistic director Ben Crick.
The choir also works a lot with other organisations and smaller choirs across a broad range of backgrounds and ethnicities and wants to encourage a greater diversity of audiences. Everyone is welcome to be part of this fantastic event, and is encouraged to come and help fill the hall.
Tickets and further information: https://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/yorkshire-symphony-orchestra-bfd-festival-choral-society