Birmingham Bach Choir kick off 2025 with their always popular annual Come and Sing! event, which this year offers choral singers an opportunity to rehearse and perform Handel’s inspiring Coronation Anthems.
Taking place at Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham, and led by renowned conductor Paul Spicer, the afternoon workshop begins at 2pm, and concludes with an informal performance of the work.
German-British composer George Frideric Handel penned the anthems for the historic coronation of George II and his consort Queen Caroline in 1727. Consisting of four pieces – Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, Zadok The Priest, The King Shall Rejoice and My Heart Is Inditing – the anthems perfectly matched the grandness and opulence of the occasion.
A firm feature of every coronation since – including the crowning of King Charles III in 2023 – the tour de force, Zadok The Priest, is perhaps the most well known of the collection.
Philip Bellshaw, Chair of Birmingham Bach Choir, said: “Come And Sing! is always hugely popular with choral singers from right across the West Midlands, giving them a great chance to rehearse a major work with Paul Spicer, one of the UK’s most respected choral conductors.
“It’s a lovely, friendly afternoon, with tea, our famed home made cakes and, of course, some stunning music.”
Birmingham Bach Choir are one of the region’s most distinguished (and longest established) large chamber choirs. The choir, who celebrated their centenary in 2019, perform music from six centuries. Forthcoming public performances include Bach’s Mass In B Minor (5 April 2025, Lichfield), and a French-themed summer concert (5 July, Malvern).
Tickets for Birmingham Back Choir: Come And Sing! Handel’s Coronation Anthems cost £25 (which includes refreshments and music hire).
For tickets and more information, see: birmingham.bachchoir.com
LISTINGS
– Suggested categories: Workshops / Events / Opportunities
Saturday 1 February 2025
Birmingham Bach Choir: Come And Sing! Handel’s Coronation Anthems
Rehearse and sing with the renowned choir and leading conductor, Paul Spicer.
Selly Oak Methodist Church, Langleys Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6HT
2pm
£25 (includes music hire and refreshments)
Details: birmingham.bachchoir.com
For all enquiries, please email: bbchoir.candsing@gmail.com
NB. Performance for friends and family, approx. 5pm-6pm.
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR
As one of the UK’s leading large chamber choirs, Birmingham Bach Choir has been contributing to the musical life of the West Midlands since 1919, making it one of the longest established musical groups in the area. Although the main focus is the Baroque period (especially JS Bach), the choir performs music spanning 600 years, including 20th and 21st century works, and has premiered many new choral works.
2019 was the choir’s centenary, a year which saw them make a series of special appearances, including a Gala Concert at Lichfield Cathedral and a performance for Royalty.
The 2022-2023 Season marked Conductor Paul Spicer’s 30th anniversary with the choir and included the first West Midlands performance of Rachmaninoff’s Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in Liturgical Slavonic in living memory.
Find out more: birmingham.bachchoir.com
Social Media:
facebook.com/Birmingham-Bach-Choir-307760255351/
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2024-2025 Season
Coming soon …
Saturday 5 April 2025, 7pm
Bach: B Minor Mass
Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffs
Saturday 5 July 2025, 7pm
Summer Concert: La Belle France
Malvern Priory, Malvern, Worcs