Handel's Messiah overpowered by massed forces to close the Proms Choral Day

Messiah at the BBC Proms Choral Day
© BBC/Andy Paradise

Nardus Williams (soprano)

Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano)

Benjamin Hulett (tenor)

Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)

Philharmonia Chorus

Bath Minerva Choir

The Fourth Choir

Jason Max Ferdinand Singers

London Youth Chamber Choir

Voices of the River's Edge

Gavin Carr (coordinating chorus-master)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

John Butt (conductor)

Helen Charlston
© BBC/Andy Paradise

BBC Prom 65

7pm, Saturday 7 September 2024

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★ 

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Messiah

(orch. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791))

'Conductor John Butt had a massive juggernaut to control and, with the best will in the world, nuance was always going to be a challenge. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields played with precision and lyricism, but in solo arias and recitatives, they were often sadly just too loud to allow room for the soloists’ subtleties of expression'.

John Butt conducts Messiah
© BBC/Andy Paradise

'Tenor Benjamin Hulett opened with a gently sustained “Comfort Ye”, followed by a nimble “Ev’ry Valley”.... When Mozart got out of the way and left things to strings alone for “Behold, and see”, (Helen) Charlston shone.... Soprano Nardus Williams delivered pure tone in “He shall feed his flock”, again, muted strings allowing for delicate colour....Bass-baritone Ashley Riches’ penetrating tone cut through the textures well'.

'The Philharmonia Chorus formed the semi-chorus (still 120 singers), delivering confident precision in the fiddlier choruses'.

'The fully combined chorus produced a phenomenally powerful sound, and this was used to dramatic effect for “Wonderful Counsellor” in “For unto us a child is born”'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.