St James’ Church: Messiah

St James’ Music presents Handel’s much-loved sacred oratorio, Messiah, in Sydney’s oldest church. The rich and focused sound for which The Choir of St James’ is renowned will showcase the intricate mastery of Handel’s work in a more intimate chamber setting. The Choir will be joined by Bach Band at St James’, comprising Sydney’s finest historically-informed instrumentalists.

The Choir of St James’, directed by Warren Trevelyan-Jones, enjoys a reputation of being one of the finest choirs in Australia. As one of the oldest musical establishments, it has links to the early days of the colony of New South Wales; its early members were convicts. The Choir maintains a schedule of regular weekly choral services, Sunday Cantata Services, Orchestral Masses, and its own Subscription Concert Series. It has a large and varied repertoire encompassing music from the Middle Ages to the contemporary, and it is committed to supporting new Australian works, including compositions written by past and present members of the Choir. Past collaborations include working with Paul McCreesh, The Tallis Scholars, The King’s Singers, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and soloists Yvonne Kenny, Greta Bradman and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. The Choir also undertakes a comprehensive programme of recording, broadcasting and touring, interstate and overseas. In 2018, it returned to Gallipoli and sang at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service.