The central belt of Scotland did rather well for New Year performances of Messiah on 2 January 2020. In Glasgow, the RSNO (with its chorus, which decades ago was called the Glasgow Choral Union) mounted its traditional annual performance. Those forces were guided by the excellent Handel specialist Nicholas McGegan.
Meanwhile, at the Usher Hall, the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union were giving no less than their 133rd annual performance. Once again there was no chance of any sense of routine, The performance was directed by the prominent baroque scholar Jane Glover. She was a rare visitor to Scotland, though she had conducted the RSNO in previous years, in more modern repertoire.
Her approach to the piece was also delightfully fresh. She was supported in this by an accomplished solo quartet. Gemma Summerfield, recently seen as Scottish Opera's lovely Pamina, confirmed that previous view,
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