Keen choristers are invited to sing along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s performance of the beloved oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, this coming Sunday evening at the Firle Stake Centre, 120 Gage Street, at 6:45 p.m. The concert, conducted by renowned choir director Mack Wilberg, includes the Orchestra at Temple Square and four soloists from the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Adelaide Messiah sing-in chairman, Caroline McIlwaine, says similar ‘Sings’ have happened in countries around the world this week from England to Romania and now Australia, allowing both accomplished and not-so-accomplished singers to join their voices with those of the world famous choir.
“A couple of local choirs have accepted the invitation to join us on the night, and lots of people have said they hope just to master the Hallelujah Chorus in time to sing, And of course, anyone who wants just to enjoy the concert is welcome. It's open to everyone, regardless of their faith, without charge,” Caroline said.
All 10,000 tickets for this year's two live performances in Salt Lake City were snapped up in ten minutes. To make it more widely available, the performance was broadcast throughout the world last weekend, with local congregations being encouraged to plan sing-alongs.
In the spirit of the first performance, which was a benefit concert in aid of orphans and others in need in Dublin on Easter in 1742, those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the St Vincent de Paul Society, a charity that Adelaide Latter-day Saints also supported with bushfire relief donations in December.
In the lead up to the Messiah performance, the choir also invited people globally to upload videos of themselves singing the Hallelujah Chorus (the most famous of the Messiah’s choruses). The submitted clips were then incorporated into the Tabernacle Choir’s performance. See the results here.
Adelaide’s free ‘Sing’ event will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 120 Gage Street Firle at 6.45 pm for a 7 pm start on Sunday 3 April. For more information or to obtain a copy of the programme, contact Caroline McIlwaine at mcilwaine@internode.on.net.