Handel : Messiah 2026

HANDEL - MESSIAHHallelujah! Handels glorious, much-loved oratorio, Messiah, returns to the magnificent, candlelit surroundings of Worcester Cathedral this December in the ultimate Christmas concert experience!Presented by the 140 voices of Worcester Festival Choral Society, this unmissable performance is also our annual Benefit Concert for local children's causes, in partnership with grant-giving charity the Worcestershire Community Foundation [https://www.worcscf.org.uk].For nearly 300 years Messiah has been one of the worlds most popular pieces of music ever written. From its mighty Hallelujah chorus so moving that King George II was said to have risen to his feet at its premiere to stunning arias and choruses such as For unto us a child is born , All we like sheep and The trumpets shall sound , this is a concert of choral favourites like no other.Accompanying Worcester Festival Choral Society the regions leading, large classical choir are four, internationally acclaimed soloists and the superb Meridian Sinfonia Baroque orchestra, all under the baton of Worcester Cathedral's director of music Samuel Hudson.This performance is also the Choral Society's annual Benefit Concert for local children's causes, in partnership with grant-giving charity the Worcestershire Community Foundation. (More details about the Messiah Benefit Concert below). In addition the performance marks the Choral Societys inaugural Hallelujah! Young Singers Opportunity, a new initiative encouraging a number of students and teachers from local secondary schools to experience the thrill of taking part in one of the most beloved choral works of all time.SOLOISTS:
Alexandra Kidgell (soprano)
Kate Symonds-Joy (mezzo soprano)
William Balkwill (tenor)
Alex Ashworth (bass baritone)So snap up your seats for a magical evening of music this Christmas!Tickets 10 - 29MESSIAH BENEFIT CONCERT : HELP TO CHANGE YOUNG LIVES THIS CHRISTMASFund-raising partnership with the Worcestershire Community FoundationDid you know that Handels magnificent Messiah has been doing good in society since 1742? The composer ensured he made each of his Messiah concerts a fund-raising benefit performance making a profound impact on 18th century health, well-being and social change by inspiring the worlds first purpose-built maternity hospital the Rotunda, Dublin as well as Londons Foundling Hospital.Now, echoing that spirit, Worcester Festival Choral Society is delighted to continue its special fund-raising partnership with the Worcestershire Community Foundation that aims to support the health, well-being and education of children and young people across our county.Through voluntary charitable donations and Gold Patrons business philanthropy, we hope to raise a significant sum for the Worcestershire Community Foundation each December, offered through the Messiah Endowment Fund.As a local grant-making charity, Worcestershire Community Foundation supports the county by championing smaller community groups, and connecting donors of all kinds with local causes that really matter. Since 2020 it has distributed more than 2,500,000 of funding, in the form of grants supporting more than 90 county projects (www.worcscf.org.uk).We therefore invite you to celebrate Messiahs musical and philanthropic legacy by making a charitable donation at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wcf-wcfsmessiah - no matter how small. Every penny raised will go to the Worcestershire Community Foundation, for distribution in grants to deserving youth-related causes in our county.Thank you for your supportPLAN YOUR VISIT:
For travel, parking and latest accessibility information at our venue Worcester Cathedral, please visit:
Worcester Cathedral : Plan your visit [https://www.worcestercathedral.org.uk/visit-us/plan-your-visit]
Worcester Cathedral : Accessibility [https://www.worcestercathedral.org.uk/visit-us/accessibility]