Figure 1 Programmes and Posters from 1988. Image LBC Archive.
LBC and Handel’s Messiah – Part 3 (Part 1 and Part 2 Here).
LBC Archivist: Dr Jennifer Wilkinson
© Dr Jennifer Wilkinson (permission is given to correct typographical errors but not to edit or alter without consent from Dr Jennifer Wilkinson)
The extraordinary performance of Messiah (see the reviews and reports of this concert on the website) last month has prompted reflection on other landmark performances of this work by the LBC.
52 years after LBC’S inaugural production of Messiah in Church Langton Handel’s Oratorio was performed twice within the space of as many months.
In September 1988 around 40 members of the LBC travelled to Krefeld in Germany where, as part of the city’s twinning relationship with Leicester, Paul Spicer conducted both the LBC and the Krefeld Bach Chor in a performance of Messiah. Sung in English the concert was performed to a packed audience in the Friedenskirche. To prepare for the occasion Herr Hartmut Sennlaub, conductor of the Krefeld singers, used practice tapes to ensure correct pronunciation.(1)
The choir performed with the Junges Kammerorchester Krefeld and soloists: Andrea Gray (Soprano), Richard Wyn Roberts (Countertenor), Andrew Tusa (Tenor) and George Banks-Martin (Bass). The programme notes, written by Osward Becker, included “a few musical-theological thoughts on Messiah” discussing the different interpretations that have been made of the Oratorio in terms of linguistics, musical intonation and theological context.(2)
The choirs were rewarded with a standing ovation and plans were made for the Krefeld Chor to visit Leicester the following Spring to sing St John Passion in German with Harmut Sennlaub conducting.(3)
On the 5th November Paul Spicer repeated the performance at Leicester Cathedral. The soloists were the same as those who travelled to Germany with the exception of the bass part which was now taken by Henry Wickman. Instrumentation was provided by the New Mozart Orchestra, led by Rolf Wilson, one time Leader of the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra.(4)
The concert was described in the Mercury as a “Landmark Concert… surprising and brilliantly successful.” with particular praise for way the lack of “things one associates with Messiah, like piety, preaching, drama and conventional feelings.”, “What Paul Spicer… appeared to concentrate on the music. It was not an irreverent performance but the reverence was transferred to the quality of the sound.”(5)
Here is how Paul Spicer summarised these events in his annual Conductor’s Report, “The ‘Messiah’ in Krefeld, which really began our season, was an unqualified success, both musically and socially. It set us up in all ways for a really fine start back in Leicester, and the home performance of Messiah was terrific.”(6)
…
References
- Leicester Mercury (1988) “Twin-town choirs hit right note” 30 September 1988
- Krefeld Programme (1988) – LBC Archive
- Whittaker, M. (1989) Friends Newsletter 2 Autumn 1989 – LBC Archive
- Concert Programme (1988), Messiah 5 November 1988 – LBC Archive
- Leicester Mercury (1988), “Landmark Messiah” 8 November 1988
- Spicer, P. (1989), 1988-89 Season: Conductor’s Report to the AGM – LBC Archive