by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral 

 

Liverpool is a city with a strong ecumenical tradition, shaped in part by the friendship between Archbishop Derek Warlock and Anglican Bishop David Shepherd, which reached a high point with the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II in 1982.

 

Since then, the Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool Anglican Cathedral have continued to find creative ways to work together, most famously through the annual Pentecost “Two Cathedrals Service” with its procession down Hope Street.

 

Their musical collaboration is also well established: since 2013, the choirs of both cathedrals have joined together annually to sing George Frederick Handel’s famous oratorio, Messiah, alternating performances between the two cathedrals.

 

On 11 October, this year’s performance of Messiah will take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The choirs of Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral will be accompanied by the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra.

 

Soloists for this performance are Kelsey Thomas (soprano) Danny Townley (alto) Stefan Kennedy (tenor) and Joe Murphy (bass). Kelsey and Joe are both former choristers here at the Metropolitan Cathedral, who have both gone on to study at prestigious conservatoires. It is a great joy for us to welcome them back ‘home’ to the cathedral where they began their careers.

 

This year’s Messiah performance will be directed by Richard Lea, Organist of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

 

All are welcome to join the audience for this special evening. Hearing the famous movements such as the Hallelujah Chorus sung by our joint cathedral cathedrals is a hair-raising experience and not to be missed!

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Tickets (£15/20) for the concert are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/metcathedral