130 Voices And Full Orchestra To Bring Haydn’s The Creation To St George’s Hall

One of the most uplifting and spectacular works in the choral repertoire will be heard in Bradford on Saturday 21 March, as part of the Bradford Theatres International Orchestral Season, when Bradford Festival Choral Society joins forces with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra to perform Joseph Haydn’s The Creation at St George’s Hall.

Bringing together around 130 singers alongside professional soloists and full orchestra, the performance promises an evening of thrilling live music on a scale rarely experienced outside major city concert programmes and curated orchestral series.

Composed at the height of Haydn’s career, The Creation remains one of the most life-affirming works ever written — a radiant musical depiction of the emergence of light, land, sea and life itself. From moments of hushed wonder to choruses of exhilarating power, the work continues to captivate seasoned concertgoers and delight audiences discovering it for the first time.

With large-scale live performances continuing to draw strong audiences across the UK, events such as this highlight the enduring appetite for shared musical experiences.

For Bradford Festival Choral Society, the performance continues a long tradition of presenting ambitious choral music in the city, following the near-capacity audience of over 900 welcomed at St George’s Hall for last November’s Messiah.

Thomas Leech

The Creation is music that truly comes alive in performance. Haydn’s sense of drama, colour and joy is extraordinary, and to experience it with full chorus and orchestra in a hall like St George’s is something very special. Whether you know the piece well or are discovering it for the first time, it’s an evening designed to uplift.Musical Director Thomas Leech

Alongside its performances, the choir continues to play an active role in the cultural life of the district through partnerships and community outreach, helping ensure that live choral music remains welcoming and accessible to the widest possible audience.

Elaine Schack, Chair of Bradford Festival Choral Society, said: “There is something uniquely powerful about hearing voices and orchestra together in a shared space. Performances like this are more than concerts — they are occasions that bring people together, and we are proud to continue contributing to Bradford’s vibrant musical life.”

As audiences increasingly seek the immediacy and connection of live performance, concerts on this scale reaffirm the lasting appeal of experiencing great music together.

Event Details

Haydn: The Creation
Bradford Festival Choral Society
with Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra

Soloists: Pasquale Orchard (soprano), Satriya Krisna (tenor), John Holland-Avery (bass)
Conductor: Thomas Leech

📍 St George’s Hall, Bradford
📅 Saturday 21 March 2026, 7.30pm

Tickets available via the Bradford Theatres Box Office:
🌐 bradford-theatres.co.uk
📞 01274 432000