Finding Messiah

This documentary on the Cape Town Youth Choir started out as a research project for filmmaker D. David Morin on George Frideric Handel but blossomed into a unique peek at the rigorous rehearsal process to stage Handel’s most famous oratorio "Messiah". The subject of the documentary is conductor Leon Starker and South Africa’s own internationally acclaimed Cape Town Youth Choir (CTYC). Since its start in 1997, the choir has proven itself both in South Africa and on the international stage. The CTYC won "Choir of the World" title at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales and "Champion of the World Choir Games" by winning the Musica Sacra category at the 5th World Choir Games in Graz, Austria. “FINDING MESSIAH” chronicles Starker and three choir members as they climb “the Everest of all chorale pieces”…with “rough, rough, rough” beginnings for the tenors and the inevitable tensions that build between all the different voice parts as they tackle the most specific and demanding of all music compositions. Leon Starker as the perfectionist conductor proves as passionate and entertaining as he is demanding. The Festival Orchestra adds to the combustible mix of “feel versus timing” as they struggle to follow a choir conductor whose forte is not exactly counting the beat as much as finding the overall sonic feel. Suzanne Martens leads the CTYC Festival Orchestra. This unique behind-the-scenes look at the most famous piece of music in history is one compelling and enjoyable journey for aficionados and music lovers everywhere.