1992, Handel's The Messiah (audio files)
Audio files of solos provided by Graham Ford. Soloists are named after the title. Selected from several performances.
3 Comfort Ye - David Cox 6 But who may Abide - Graham Ford 9 O Thou that Tellest - Dianne Richter 9 O Thou that Tellest - Judith O'Shea 10 For Behold - Simon Newnham 11 People that Walked - Peter Newton 14 There were Shepherds - Hildegard Ziersch 17 Rejoice - Mavis Ford 20 He Shall Feed - Sue Douglas 20 Come Unto Him - Nancy Cornwallis 20 He Shall Feed, Come Unto Him - Mary-Anne Neal, Mavis Ford 23 He was Despised - Kim Kocijan 27 All They that See Him - Robert Hoskin 29 Thy Rebuke - Allan Luke 31 He was cut off - Michael Try 32 But Thou didst not Leave - Michael Try 38 How Beautiful - Carolynn O'Brien 38 How Beautiful - Mavis Ford 40 Why do the Nations - Colin Chapman 40 Why do the Nations - Graham Ford 43 Thou Shalt Break Them - Robert Hoskin 45 I Know that my Redeemer - Annette Baines 45 I Know that my Redeemer - Mavis Ford 45 I Know That my Redeemer - Nancy Cornwallis 48 If God be for Us - Annette Baines 48 Trumpet Shall Sound - Colin Chapman 48 Trumpet Shall Sound - Graham Ford
The major project for the end of the year was Messiah, with a number of suburban and country performances planned. People were, as usual, active in other areas too. Carolynn and Terry O'Brien held an evening at their home for the Friends of the Christmas Hills Fire Brigade, featuring Serendipity, Carolynn, Graham and Judith O'Shea, among others. Judith is an eisteddfod "junkie" and over August and September she managed a win at Ringwood and second places at Mordialloc and Ararat. Marilyn Billing also gained a second at Ararat.
Auditions for soloists for Messiah were held mid-September, and as a large number of performances were planned it was feasible to have a wide range of soloists. Successful sopranos were Nancy Cornwallis, Mavis Ford, Carolynn O'Brien and Hildegard Ziersch; the altos Kim Kocijan, Mary-Ann Neal, Judith O'Shea and Dianne Richter; the tenors David Cox, Robert Hoskin, Allan Luke and Michael Try; and the basses Graham Ford, Simon Newnham and Peter Newton.
The first of the Messiah performances took place in mid-November at Glen Waverley Uniting Church, combining with their choir. This was followed by performances at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greensborough (with a very small audience), St. John's Lutheran Church, Southgate, Castlemaine Uniting Church, Diamond Creek Uniting Church, East Ivanhoe Uniting Church (without a trumpeter for "The Trumpet Shall Sound", Euroa Anglican Church (where we received a standing ovation), and Greensborough Baptist Church. Most performances were with the orchestra, but at Glen Waverley and Southgate Ken Peard (organist at Glen Waverley) accompanied on the organ. It was a long and tiring season, but the general feeling was that it had been most successful, and the large number of soloists had all made a valuable contribution. Ian Lowe's leadership of the orchestra was admirable, and a great inspiration. At one performance he was unable to be there, and was greatly missed.
These history notes have been kindly provided by our long-term artistic director and co-founder, Graham Ford.