STROUD Choral Society with the Regency Sinfonia will be performing Handel’s Oratorio ‘Messiah’ at the Sub Rooms on Saturday. This work, first performed in Dublin in 1742, is one of the most popular and demanding choral works, maybe best known for the thrilling ‘Hallelujah’ chorus for which audiences still stand. This follows the example of King George II who when he first heard the work stood up. Court protocol required that no one should sit while the King was standing, so the whole audience stood up, since that time it is a tradition to stand for the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus.

Stroud Choral Society is a choir of approximately 130 members and believed to be the second oldest Choral Society in the UK. The Stroud Society began in the first part of the nineteenth century following the opening of the Subscription Rooms in October 1834.

The performance will be conducted by Stroud Choral Society’s musical Director Benjamin Nicholas. Musical Director of Stroud Choral Society since 2004, Ben has played a crucial role in the development of the choir. He studied music at Oxford University where he was organ scholar at Lincoln College. He was subsequently organ scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral and Director of Music at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea before moving to Tewkesbury Abbey in 2000. He is currently Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum and Director of Choral Music at Dean Close School, Cheltenham.

Regency Sinfonia, (Leader: Simon Chalk) is comprised of freelance musicians, many of whom have busy lives in other orchestras; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, to name but a few. Renowned soloists for the performance are Sophie Bevan (Soprano) Jeremy Kenyon (Alto) Nicholas Scott (Tenor) and Christopher Borrett (Bass).

Concert starts at 7pm.