and Orchestra performs Handel's `Messiah' at the Anglican Cathedral.

Conductor Mr. Graham Garton will be directing a choir of 100 voices and an orchestra of about 50 players, with some key instrumentalists flying in from overseas for the two performances on April 24 and 25.

The four guest soloists are all senior students from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where Mr. Garton was also a student.

"I know that this will be a very popular concert. Everyone seems to know the `Messiah', especially the rousing Hallelujah Chorus at the end, and it seems to have a unique appeal for each person who hears it,'' says Mr. Garton, who adds, "We have four very fine young soloists who are, hopefully, the future cream of British singers.'' It is 34 years since the last complete performance was given. In May 1959, when the Cathedral was also the venue, Messiah was sung by the Bermuda Oratorio Society, the conductor was Dr. S. Drummond Wolff, and the BMDS orchestra was led by Peter Rosorea with Eric Troake at the organ. The Society, formed that year by Dr. Wolff during the 350th celebrations of the founding of the Colony, boasted an illustrious Patron in the form of Sir Malcolm Sargent.

Among those taking part in that 1959 performance was Mrs. Jean Motyer, now the organist and choir director at St. Mark's Church. Donald Campbell, who sang the bass solo on that occasion, will be singing in the chorus this time around.

For Graham Garton, `Messiah' has played an important role in his musical life.

The first time he conducted the massive work was at Christchurch, St.

Marylebone, while he was still at the Royal Academy. The last occasion on which he conducted the whole work was in 1981 for the Watford Philharmonic, and before that, in 1973.

In between, however, he has sung the oratorio with the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir at the Royal Albert Hall and, memorably, with a choir of 3,000 in Gothenberg, Sweden.

The work considered by many to be quintessential English music was written, in fact, by a German. But George Frideric Handel, already one of the most celebrated composers on the Continent, was to become the toast of British society and 14 years after his triumphant arrival, became a citizen of the country that had taken him to its heart.

Reputedly "fat, slovenly, gluttonous, bow-legged and often to be seen lurching about the streets of London muttering to himself in German like some runny ship-jumper'', he was nevertheless acknowledged as a genius whose reputation was primarily founded on his `Messiah'. Unusual in that it received a rapturous reception at its very first performance, the popularity of the piece has never wavered.

Handel, who was named one of the directors when the Royal Academy of Music was formed in 1719, achieved a solid reputation for his operas.

But having written forty-six of them, the realism of John Gay's `The Beggar's Opera', produced in 1728, proved to be the death-knell for his popular Italian-style works.

1741, when the viceroy of Ireland invited Handel to produce a charity concert, proved to be a historic turn of events for the composer, and for choral music in general.

Always a quick writer, Handel surpassed himself on this occasion, composing the `Messiah' in just 24 days. It should be noted, perhaps, that some of the material was re-cycled.

The `Hallelujah Chorus', for instance, started life as a drinking song from one of his operas. Its first triumphant performance when, by all accounts, the audience was "delirious'', took place in 1742, in Dublin. Recently, the 200th anniversary performance in London was broadcast around the world on the BBC.

Taking the solo roles in this weekend's performance are Mary Nelson, soprano, who has already won many awards during her time at the Royal Academy. A native of Northern Ireland, she has given radio broadcasts for BBC Radio Ulster.

Mezzo soprano Jeanette Ager has extensive experience in oratorio work and is scheduled to perform this year with the London Mozart Players and the Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge.

Aled Hall, tenor, who has won the under-25 Tenor Solo Competition at the Roual National Eisteddfod on three occasions, hopes to pursue a career in opera.

Christopher Maltman, bass, took a degree in biochemistry before joining the opera course at the Royal Academy. He has sung opera and oratorio in the UK and Europe and is due to appear soon in the Mid Wales Opera production of `La Boheme'.

Handel's `Messiah' takes place at the Anglican Cathedral, Hamilton, on Sunday, April 24 and Monday, April 25, at 8 p.m. Tickets at $20 (senior citizens and students $14) are available from Philharmonic members, The Harbourmaster, Opus 1, and Meyer Travel.

THE FIRST MESSIAH -- Members of the Bermuda Oratorio Society seen rehearsing in the Anglican Cathedral for the first complete performance of Handel's `Messiah' in 1935, under the direction of Dr. Drummond Wolff.

MESSIAH AT CATHEDRAL -- Mr. Graham Garton, director of the Bermuda Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, who will conduct Handel's `Messiah' at the Anglican Cathedral this Sunday and Monday.