Exeter Philharmonic Choir stages Handel’s rarely performed masterpiece Solomon

Exeter Philharmonic Choir’s 2026 Lord Mayor’s concert will be held at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday, 14 March, and promises to be a night of music-making to remember. Handel’s Solomon is rarely performed in its entirety, yet this masterful oratorio combines high drama, rich orchestration and some of Handel’s most exquisite choral writing.

The ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, the sparkling instrumental which opens Act III, is one of the most recognisable compositions in the Baroque repertoire, capturing the grandeur and majesty of the monarch’s arrival, as described in the biblical narrative. Interestingly, Handel himself didn’t give the piece this title; the name is thought to have been popularised in the 20th century and has since become one of Handel’s best-known compositions, memorably used during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.

Exeter Philharmonic Choir is delighted to welcome mezzo-soprano Martha McLorinan as the wise King Solomon, a part that’s traditionally sung by a woman; soprano Amy Carson, doubling as his Queen and the Queen of Sheba; tenor Hugo Hymas as Zadok the Priest; and bass Timothy Dickinson as the Levite. The choir will be singing in eight voice parts, with Endelienta Baroque adding to the rich tapestry of sound with their historical instruments.

Martha, who hails from the South West, is recognised for her ‘warm expressivity’ (The Guardian). She has appeared as a soloist at venues as far afield as Moscow, Hamburg and Salt Lake City. Martha is delighted to be asked back to sing with Exeter Philharmonic Choir - and have an excuse to come home to the West Country.

Exeter Philharmonic Choir always performs with professional soloists and musicians. This concert has an additional element; in addition to the four stellar professional soloists and talented orchestra, three members of Exeter Philharmonic's one-hundred-strong choir - sopranos Helen Goode and Charlotte Moyes, both from Exeter, and tenor Stuart Mole from Exmouth - will be stepping out of their ‘comfort zone’ and into the spotlight as guest soloists.

Helen, a secondary school teacher who’s been a member of Exeter Philharmonic Choir for about four years, says she’s feeling nervous and excited in equal measure. She says, “Singing has always been part of my life. I did a lot of singing at school and sang in the National Youth Choir as a teenager and then all through university. In my 30s and 40s, I didn’t sing in a choir for about ten years and I really missed it. I knew I wanted to join a good choir and this led me to join Exeter Philharmonic Choir after lockdown. It’s wonderful.

“I don’t want to sound too cheesy, but I realised about a year ago that it’s one of the best things in my life. The standard of the choir is really good, Howard (Ionascu) as a conductor is great - the right mix of challenging us and giving criticism or positive feedback - and I absolutely love singing with a group that strives to be excellent.”

Helen adds, “Last year Howard wanted everyone to do a vocal assessment, which he was at pains to stress was not a re-audition! He asked us each to prepare a song and I took something that I hoped would showcase my voice. Afterwards, he told me he was brewing an idea to have three choir members sing solos in Solomon, and he asked if I’d be interested.

I replied that I’d love to. So, that’s how this exciting opportunity came about.”

Based on a story from the Old Testament, the soloists in Solomon are the characters and story tellers. Helen and fellow soprano Charlotte will ‘face off’ as two women who come before Solomon claiming to be the mother of a baby.  To determine the truth, and as proof of his wisdom and ability to discern a situation, Solomon tells them that the fairest thing to do is to divide the child in two and for them to have half each. The real mother finds the idea abhorrent. Helen plays the woman who proves herself not to be the mother because she is happy for the baby to be sliced in half.

Exeter Philharmonic Choir’s Director of Music, Howard Ionascu, says, “Handel’s masterpiece brings to life a compelling story about the deeds and wisdom of King Solomon. Although the ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ in the final act will be recognisable to many, this oratorio is rarely performed in its entirety, and is another musical ‘first’ for the choir. It’s also a rare opportunity for three of our choir to showcase their beautiful voices in solo roles.”

EPC is proud to have the Lord Mayor of Exeter as its Honorary President and the choir’s spring concert is always billed as ‘The Lord Mayor’s Concert’. There will be a retiring collection for the current Lord Mayor’s chosen local charity, Riding for the Disabled (RDA) - Exeter Group.

Book your tickets now, or call 0333 666 3366. Ticket prices range from £16 to £30.

Orchestra

Endelienta Baroque

Soloists

Amy Carson - soprano

Martha McLorinan - mezzo-soprano

Hugo Hymas - tenor

Timothy Dickinson - bass