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COBOURG – A large crowd coming from miles around gathered in Cobourg’s Trinity United Church Saturday afternoon when the local Northumberland Symphony, directed by Patrick Headley and the Belleville Choral Society, led by Heather Christiansen, performed together for the first time.
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The program was a wide-ranging one from contemporary Christmas music, such as the music by famed motion picture sound track composer John Williams from the Star Wars movies, also a Christmas medley by British composer Gustav Holst. The opening number was Mozarts beloved Ave Verum.
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After a brief intermission, the ensemble turned to selections from Handel’s Messiah. This part of the program was enlivened by a surprise bewigged visitor who introduced himself as Handel and explained how and why he wrote the famous oratorio. He also commended the 70-voice Belleville choir, making its first appearance in Cobourg.
The closing chorus was the iconic Hallelujah Chorus, for which the audience rose, in keeping with an old tradition.
The choral society had spent many hours preparing for this event during their weekly Monday evening gatherings and it was a special event for all members of the choir who faced some threatening driving conditions for some rehearsals.
The chorus will now resume rehearsals for its coming annual show in the spring.
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