With the Festive season fast approaching, Manchester Camerata is delighted to announce two live concerts in its home town to spread seasonal good tidings and winter warmth, bringing an end to its 2021 season ahead of its 50th anniversary next year.
From the heart of its stunning brand new home at the Monastery in Gorton, Manchester Camerata is teaming up with the award-winning Nevill Holt Opera on Sunday November 28th to perform the much loved Messiah by candlelight.
Dating back to 1742, the power and beauty of Handel’s rousing “Hallelujah” chorus and “For unto us a child is born” will engulf the incredible natural acoustics of the Monastery’s epic Great Nave. The performance – conducted by Nicholas Chalmers– will allow for an afternoon of stillness, rejuvenation and joy before the chaos of the holiday season.
On the afternoon of Sunday December 12th, Manchester Camerata will continue to uplift and celebrate life when it joins forces once again with leading gospel choir, AMC. Formed in 1993, AMC has fast become one of the country’s most successful and loved gospel choir, thanks in part to many television appearances including Songs of Praise and reaching the semi-finals of BBC One’s Last Choir Standing and performances with the likes of Robbie Williams. Beverley Knight and Russell Watson.
Having performed at Hacienda Classical and at previous Festive Happenings, Manchester Camerata is delighted to be joining forces once again with renowned Choir Director Audrey Mattis and her talented group of singers for a rousing afternoon of festive and spiritual gospel favourites
In between both concerts, and following her knockout Proms debut performance, Manchester Camerata is thrilled to perform in concert with “one-woman firework display” The Times) Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Making her North West debut, the leading international violinist will join Manchester Camerata to perform at the Stoller Hall (December 3rd) and at Leeds International Concert Season at Leeds College of Music (December 4th).
Included in the programme for both performances will be a work written by Kopatchinskaja, alongside a wide-ranging programme spanning more than three centuries, with works by Biber, Ligeti and Hartmann. Rounding off both concerts is Haydn’s lively ‘Farewell’ Symphony.
These three diverse and stirring concerts mark the end of a significant year for Manchester Camerata which has undertaken a major move to its new home at The Monastery in Gorton, which became derelict in the 1970s before being repaired by a group of volunteers over 20 years. Like many places in the UK, Gorton suffers from deep inequalities – for young people, families (48% family poverty) and the community.
Manchester Camerata has worked tirelessly throughout this challenging year and will continue to do so become an integral part of the Gorton community, listening and responding to the needs of the community. To that end, the Orchestra has just launched its brand new Music Café offering free support for people living with dementia and their at-home carers, which takes place every Wednesday at The Monastery.
