Handel’s Messiah in a pandemic

Our performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 30th May, delayed from Good Friday to Trinity Sunday, was an emotional and powerful occasion for performers and audience alike. This was the first concert performance for the full choir since Christmas Eve 2019, following the banning of amateurs singing in large groups for either concert or rehearsals since March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our 2020 Good Friday Messiah had to be cancelled – the first cancellation of this annual event since the Blitz.

The mitigations in place at the RAH to prevent the transmission of Covid were second to none, as was to be expected from the Hall’s excellent event management team. Singers were admitted on evidence of a negative Covid test, with everyone scanning in to the NHS test and trace system. Masks were worn at all times except when singing and everyone maintained 2-m social-distancing at all times. This meant that the 117-strong choir was ranged up each side of the organ and onto the stage (with the stage extension on). 

But what about singing under these conditions?

Conducted by Richard Cooke and accompanied by Richard Pearce on the organ (instead of with our usual orchestra, the RPO), the choir had been able to rehearse at the Royal Albert Hall on the Thursday preceding the concert, as well as in split rehearsals in two other venues during the two weeks prior to the concert, and on Zoom before that! This meant that we were concert-ready, and because we know Messiah so well (it’s an annual event and Richard always rehearses it thoroughly), the 2m social-distancing merely ensured that everyone concentrated that little bit harder!

We had four exceptional soloists: Mary Bevan, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Benjamin Hulett and Edward Grint. Like amateur singers, they have also missed out on many performances due to Covid and it was obvious how much they enjoyed the performance and seemed impressed by the sound made by the choir – and amused by Richard Pearce’s rendition of ‘All We Like Sheep’. The Amen Chorus has never sounded so impassioned. What a moment!

A standing ovation followed from a very appreciative audience. It was certainly a day to remember! 

Video of Hallelujah Chorus from 30 May on Facebook:
https://fb.watch/5Ur1r_d-6i/