Pope Benedict has invited a Dublin choir to be the first ever to perform
Handel’s Messiah in the Vatican.

 

Our Lady’s Choral society, a choir of the Archdiocese of Dublin, will
perform for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI as part of the 80th anniversary
of the founding of the Vatican City State next February.

The invitation from the Vatican was extended through the Archbishop of
Dublin, Dr. Diarmuid Martin who made the announcement prior to the opening
of the choir’s annual performances of the Messiah in the National Concert
Hall beginning tomorrow (Wednesday 8pm). Archbishop Martin said the
invitation was a great honour for the Archdiocese and a tribute to years of
dedication and to the exceptional talents of those involved in Our Lady’s
Choral Society.

Fr. Paul Ward, Director of the Choral Society said everyone in the Society
was looking forward to performing in the Vatican. He said he was delighted
that the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of all involved in the Society
would have such prestigious recognition.

The soloists  this week in the National Concert Hall will also be performing
in the Vatican – Lynda Lee, soprano, Robin Tritschler, tenor, Ian Caddy,
Bass and Ulrike Schneider, mezzo soprano. Ulrike is from Halle in Germany,
the birthplace of GF Handel.  The RTE concert orchestra will be conducted by
the Choral society’s musical director, Prionnsias O’ Duinn.

The Messiah was first performed in Fishamble Street in the Old Music Hall in
April 1742. Our Lady’s Choral Society have been marking that anniversary by
singing choruses from the Messiah on the street to audiences of thousands
over the years.

Our Lady’s Choral Society (OLCS) was founded in Dublin in 1945, after the
Dublin Archdiocese brought together the best singers from all the church
choirs of the Diocese for a performance of Handel’s Messiah.  Today, Our
Lady’s Choral Society holds a unique place in the diverse, cosmopolitan city
that Dublin has become. Under the guardianship of the Archdiocese, OLCS
welcomes members from all religions and all walks of life. For many people
living in Dublin, the Christmas season simply does not begin until they’ve
heard at least one performance of Handel’s Messiah by Our Lady’s Choral
Society.

 The 120 choristers chosen for membership are united by a passion for
singing great choral music at a professional level. To keep standards up
every member is auditioned every 3 years.

The present director of the choir Paul Ward has been a singing member since
1985. The current music director Proinnsías Ó Duinn has been responsible for
the choir’s musical development since 1979. Under his direction, OLCS has
undertaken many ambitious works, from Charpentier to Stravinsky. It has also
premièred works by luminary Irish composers, such as John Kinsella and
Seoirse Bodley. Des and Marie Lawless are honorary members (non singing) of
the choir, Des being a member since its foundation.

2009 will be a particularly busy one for Our Lady’s Choral Society; on April
14th  next year – they will mark the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death by
performing several Handel compositions back in the National Concert Hall
once again, with the RTE concert Orchestra.