It is not often you get a group of pagan ceremonies performed in a Methodist Church and not often you get a group of Jewish people coming along to view it, among an audience of about 100. Both happened in Pitt St on Sunday October 5.

The event was a performance of Handel’s oratorio Athalia by the Handel Consort and Quire, a group of singers and an olde orchestra, including timpani, recorders and a harpsichord. The Pitt St connection is its resident choirmaster Robert Howell, who runs the Handel group on the side, exploiting the rich, sharp acoustics of Pitt St church.

Athaliah was an evil queen, in the biblical story of the Jewish religion being crushed by worship of foreign god Baal. The young heir to the Jewish throne is not afraid of her.

A great Jewish story, but also a Christian story of professional musicians bringing popular religious music to Auckland. Pitt St is where you go to sing Handel.