‘MESSIAH FROM SCRATCH’
SATURDAY 1st APRIL 2023
All SAINTS CHURCH, BOREHAMWOOD
On Saturday 1st April 2023 Elstree Mozart Players organised a concert of Handel’s celebrated ‘Messiah from Scratch’ to support The Peace Hospice, the chosen charity for our Mayor of Hertsmere Cllr. John Graham.
Cllr. Graham, a Patron of the orchestra invited other Mayors’ and civic dignitaries from across Hertfordshire to this concert.
Those in attendance included, The Chair of Hertfordshire County Council, Cllr. Annie Brewster, the Deputy Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Syed Abi, the Mayor of Stevenage Borough Council Cllr. Margaret Notley, the Deputy Mayor of Dacorum District Council Cllr. Alan Johnson, pictured below.
The concert included choir members from Radlett, Wembley, and Borehamwood, along with other individuals interested in being part in the evenings concert.
Soloists for the evening were:
Nicola Hooke, Soprano, who has given several BBC TV and Radio broadcasts for religious programmes, gave a vocal performance presenting tonal balance being a pleasure for the gathered audience to listen to.
Janice Watson, Mezzo Soprano who is well known to concert goes around the globe, renowned for the beauty of her sound, and a recipient of the Kathleen Ferrier Award. Janice’s exquisite voice enthralled the chorus to sing their hearts with open voice.
John Upperton, Tenor, who has appeared with the Royal Opera House, English National Opera gave an enchanted rendition of the Arias within the Messiah.
Stuart Jenkins, Bass who has sung a wide range of choral music and styles and as a soloist he has performed in works by Handel, Purcell, Mozart, Telemann, Rutter, Gilbert & Sullivan gave a strong performance.
In the Aria ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ Stuart was joined by Alison Perry who played her part of the solo trumpet with dignity, as required by the composer.
Derek Holland, Conductor, who with Cllr. Pat Strack and Andrew Grady founded Elstree Mozart Players was overwhelmed with the outstanding performance of both the orchestra and the over 40 members of the gathered combined choirs, commenting ‘That he was so pleased to be able to present such a high-quality concert for the townsfolk and to raise funds for Cllr. John Grahams designated charity for his year in office’.
Derek was also grateful to Louise Sherlock, who acted as chorus master for the evenings concert, and for Chris Gundry, who was our guest leader of the orchestra, in a change to the published programme.
At the close of the concert Cllr Graham added a vote of thanks for all those had made the evening possible, the current ‘Team Lead for The Anglican Churches in Elstree and Borehamwood’, Rev. Louise Collins, and the churchwarden Pam Kubica, for allowing the use of the church for the evenings concert.
Others who made the concert possible were Hazel McAuliffe, Cllr. Sandra Parnell, Cllr. Victor Eni, Sasha and Michael Capocci, Erika Grady, Sam Covill, and Geof Strack.
The next concert from Elstree Mozart Players is on Sunday 11th June 2023 as part of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council’s Civic Festival.
It will include music by Weber, Copeland, Mendelson, and Wilson, plus a performance of Haydn’s Cello Concerto, soloist Julie Maclean.
Tickets cost £15.00 with £12.00 concessions and will be available from the 1st May 2023.
On Saturday 7th October the orchestra will be presenting, in collaboration with The Rotary Club of the Studios of Elstree and Borehamwood a charity concert, in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
The concert will be given at Allum Manor & Hall, Elstree at 7.30pm, and features Glinka Russia and Ludmilla Overture; Pomp & Circumstance March no 1, by Elgar.
Performances of Henry VIII Suite by Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Eric Coates Flight will be presented, both works to be conducted by Guest Conductor Andrew Penny MBE.
The concert also includes a performance of York Bowes Violin Concerto, featuring soloist Peter Busserau, with the Finale for the concert being Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. It’s a concert not to be missed.
Tickets cost £15.00 with £12.00 concessions, being available from the 1st September 2023
If anyone requiring more information about, or interested in becoming a Patron of the orchestra then please contact either:
Pat Strack on 020 8386 3151 or Andrew Grady on 07802 736628
or E-mail: elstreemozartplayers@outlook.com