Britain’s best-loved and most famous oratorio will be performed at Bradford Cathedral on Palm Sunday.
On Sunday 29th March 2026 at 7pm, Bradford Cathedral Choir will present G F Handel’s Messiah. This epic choral work narrates Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection through a three part oratorio, including the iconic ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. Coming to Bradford Cathedral for the first time in over 10 years, this large- scale performance promises to be an evening of exceptional music.
Handel’s Messiah is commonly performed around Christmas, but Bradford Cathedral is staging this concert on the first day of Holy Week as a celebration of the Easter story. The concert will feature the full force of the Cathedral Choir, conducted by Bradford Cathedral’s Organist and Director of Music, Geoffrey Woollatt. From joy and exuberance to moments of great anguish and sorrow, this great work showcases the full range of what choral music can achieve.
Bradford Cathedral Choir is already hard at work to prepare for this large-scale undertaking, singing movements from the composition at the Cathedral’s weekly choral services.
The oratorio is commonly performed with large orchestras, but the concert at Bradford Cathedral will represent the work with greater fidelity to Handel’s original intentions, with a spotlight on the choir. The major part of the musical accompaniment will come from the Cathedral Organ, played by Bradford Cathedral’s Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music, William Campbell. Additional colour will be highlighted by trumpets and timpani.
Providing the solos will be several accomplished singers from the Cathedral’s Lay Clerk and Consort choirs: Jennifer Webb (Soprano), Csenge Kosaras (Alto), Robin Lowery-Morton (Tenor), and Robert Webb (Bass).
Geoffrey Woollatt, Bradford Cathedral’s Organist and Director of Music, and conductor for the performance says, ‘I’m very much looking forward to conducting our performance of Handel’s Messiah in March. I was privileged to conduct this work during my time at Manchester Cathedral, and we’ve already started teaching movements to the choir, as well as singing movements during services. It promises to be a wonderful event, accompanied by our very own William Campbell, who has the mammoth task of accompanying the whole oratorio on our wonderful Cathedral Organ.’
Tickets for the concert start from £20 for adults, or £10 for under 18s.
Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be booked at https://handels-messiah-bradford.eventbrite.co.uk, or by calling the Cathedral office on 01274 77 77 20 (Mon-Thurs, 10am – 2:45pm).