Handel - Messiah - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds

I played first trumpet in a performance of Handel's Messiah which took place at the Apex in Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk on Saturday 12th November 2022. The sold-out performance featured Suffolk Baroque Players and the Bury Bach Choir under guest conductor Tom Appleton. The Apex is a gorgeous hall to play in. 

The Bury Bach Choir is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. I had the pleasure of performing Bach and Vivaldi with them earlier this year. I also performed with Tom Appleton, the conductor for this evening, and the Aldeburgh Music Club earlier this year at Snape Maltings. It was a pleasure to work with both Tom and the Bury Bach Choir again. Tom's interpretation of Handel's Messiah was refreshing and he certainly knows how to get the best out of any choir. 

I performed The Trumpet Shall Sound with the bass soloist, Graeme Danny (bass). Austin Gunn (tenor), Valerie Reid (mezzo) and Fat Evelyn (soprano) were the other soloists. I played first trumpet (I'm in good shape, if I do say so myself, as I'm preparing for three performances of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 next week), with Will Russell on second, and Ben Fullbrook on timpani. We had chance to meet my former trumpet teacher, as well as our dear friend Andy Flack—both live nearby. Andy is a brass instrument repairer and is very kindly going to restore an old cornet for me! It was great to see both of them.

Russell Gilmour
Russell Gilmour Blog
writing on music, photography, engraving, travel and life as a freelance professional musician.

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