Nelson Mass kicks off new season

Sheffield Bach Choir has kicked off the 2024-25 season with rehearsals for Haydn’s Nelson Mass, to be performed in St John’s Church, Ranmoor in November.

“Austria had been recently been defeated by Napoleon in four battles , and Haydn referred to the work as A Mass for troubled times.” explained Musical Director Philip Collin. “However, by the first performance Nelson had just defeated Napoleon and this coincidence led to the name”

Rehearsing in St Mark’s Church

Also on the programme is A Great and Glorious Victory by conductor and composer Jonathan Willcocks, whose works have been published and widely performed across the world. 

The Nelson Mass concert is followed by the choir’s annual Messiah, back in Sheffield cathedral, with the ever-popular Come and Sing Messiah a week later in St James’ Church Norton.

Spring features Bach’s masterful St Matthew Passion at the cathedral, this time sung in the original German, and ends in St Mark’s Broomhill with an intriguing mix of works entitled If you like that you’ll love this!

For more details and to buy tickets go to Current Season Concerts

Dramatic Elijah enjoyed by all

Monday 20 November 2023

Sheffield Bach Choir were very pleased with their first concert of the season, when Mendelssohn’s wonderful oratorio was presented in St Mark’s church Broomhill.

“This amazing and popular work tells the story of the prophet Elijah” said choir Chair Chris Walker. “It’s certainly dramatic – there’s a duel of the Gods, temptation by Jezebel,  Elijah’s time in the wilderness seeking the Lord in tempest, earthquake, and fire, and his final ascent into heaven!”

The choir was conducted by their new Music Director Philip Collin, with the National Festival Orchestra and Peter Shepherd on the organ.