The Festival of Early Music returns to Portsmouth Cathedral this month- 20-23 March celebrating the music of the Tudor, Restoration, and Baroque eras.
Festival of Early Music, Portsmouth Cathedral – March 20-23, 2025
This year’s festival highlights include Handel’s ‘Messy’ Messiah (22 March, 6:00pm) a fresh and lively reimagining of Handel’s masterpiece.
Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, soloists, and orchestra will be joined by children from local schools to present Part One of Handel’s iconic oratorio — with a fresh twist. Blending music, drama and visual art, this dynamic retelling will be introduced by none other than Mr Handel himself!
Composed in 1741, Messiah has long been a cornerstone of choral music, but it is often reserved for adult audiences. Messy Messiah reimagines this masterpiece, creating an immersive and engaging experience for all ages.
The Square Pianist (20 March, 8:00pm), an opportunity for music-lovers to step back in time with music from Jane Austen’s collection, performed on an original Regency instrument, complete with historical insights and period costume.
The Gesualdo Six (21 March, 8:00pm) is offering a programme dedicated to both spiritual and earthly queens, performed by this internationally renowned vocal ensemble.
Other festival events include a talk on Handel’s Messiah and choral services throughout the festival.
The full programme and tickets can be found here.
