The unmistakable, uplifting chords of Handel’s Messiah will delight classical music fans in Kirklees later this year.
The celebrated oratorio will be performed on December 17 and 18 at Huddersfield Town Hall by the Orchestra of Opera North, conducted by Jane Glover.
First performed in 1742, Messiah is now a fixture of the festive season – and music fans are being urged to buy their tickets in good time as demand is expected to be high.
Messiah is one of the highlights of the new concert season at Huddersfield Choral Society, which opens with what is generally regarded as one of Mozart’s greatest works, C Minor Mass, and Britten’s dramatic St Nicholas Opera 42. Conducted by Sofi Jeannin and performed by the Halle Orchestra, the concert begins at 7.30pm on Friday November 1.
This society’s Christmas Concert is on Friday December 6 featuring the Black Dyke Band, as well as Huddersfield Choral Society Choir and Youth Choir.
Huddersfield Music Society – now in its 101st year – presents Schumann’s Blumenstuck and Kreisleriana, featuring Benjamin Grosvenor on piano. Janacek’s Piano Sontana, Prokofiev’s Visions and Liszt’s Reminiscences de Norma will also be performed, on October 19 in St Paul’s Hall in the University of Huddersfield.
Further highlights include a Castilian Quartet on Monday January 13, 2020, a Barbican Quartet on February 2 and French Fantasie, featuring Mark Taylor on flute and Gabriella Jones on harp on March 16.
Details of the new Kirklees Classical Music Season will be unveiled at a lunchtime concert with the Orchestra of Opera North on June 5 in Dewsbury Town Hall from 12.30pm, with lunch available from 11.30am. The evening launch takes place on June 6 at Huddersfield Town Hall, with borough organist Gordon Stewart among the performers.
The current season still has plenty to offer classical aficionados, with lunchtime concerts providing inspiring chamber music while varied evening entertainment is courtesy of the acclaimed Orchestra of Opera North in addition to acclaimed conductors and soloists.
Other concerts taking place in the borough include Florilegium on April 8 at 7.30pm in St Paul’s Hall in the University of Huddersfield. This is followed by John Adams’s Harmonium on April 12 at 7.30pm at Huddersfield Town Hall, conducted by Paul Daniel and featuring the Orchestra of Opera North and the Huddersfield Choral Society Youth Choir.
Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra will perform All That Jazz on Saturday May 11 at Huddersfield Town Hall. The programme is themed around the Chicago classic, and includes Stravinsky’s The Ebony Concerto, Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite No 2, Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. The conductor is Robert Guy.
And on June 29, the orchestra presents Back to Bach at Huddersfield Parish Church. Robert Guy will take the audience on a journey of musical masterpieces and styles, including Jenkins’ Palladio, the waltz from Carousel, Gershwin’s American in Paris and Orchestral Suite No 3 in D by JS Bach.
Meanwhile, Slaithwaite Philharmonic will showcase the work of Gershwin on April 6. On the programme alongside Gershwin’s Piano Concerto are Beethoven’s Overture and Shostakovich’s Symphony Number 12 led by conductor Benjamin Ellin. The concert takes place at Huddersfield Town Hall from 7.30pm.
And on June 15, again at Huddersfield Town Hall, Slaithwaite Philharmonic will conclude its season with a performance Verdi’s overture The Force of Destiny, Britten’s Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Symphony Number 2, conducted by Benjamin Ellin.
For tickets, go to https://tickets.kirklees.gov.uk/ or ring 01484 225755.
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