Botley Choral Society

Hallelujah for the Messiah

There was a musical treat in store for anyone willing to brave the wind and rain of the last weekend in November. Botley Choral Society, assisted by soloists Jocelyn Somerville (soprano), Thomas Jordan (alto), Adrian Green (tenor) and Philip Stokes (bass), performed a magnificent rendition of Handel’s Messiah in West Meon and Botley churches. The world-famous chorus sections were beautifully sung by the eighty members of the prestigious local choral society, whilst each of the soloists sang with great expression and feeling. All were accompanied by the impressive organ playing of Mark Dancer. The addition of Paul Hart’s beautiful trumpet-playing enhanced the most emotional sections of Handel’s best-known oratorio, which was, amazingly, composed in only 3 weeks. The end of the final chorus was greeted by the audience with rapturous applause, acknowledged by a beaming smile from conductor and Musical Director David Burgess.