Finding Messiah
Movie · Documentary · Music

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.

2016 · 1h 22m
Starring Leon Starker, Jamal Grootboom, Olerato Mogomotsi
Director D. David Morin

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Cast & Crew

  • L‌S
    Leon Starker
    Self
  • J‌G
    Jamal Grootboom
    Self
  • O‌M
    Olerato Mogomotsi
    Self
  • H‌M
    Hlumelo Marepula
    Self
  • D‌D
    D. David Morin
    Director
  • D‌D
    D. David Morin
    Producer
  • A‌D
    Anri de Klerk
    Producer
  • D‌D
    D. David Morin
    Writer

About

Finding Messiah

Documentary

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.

Information

Studio
Bungalow Four
Released
2016
Run Time
1 hr 22 min
Region of Origin
South Africa

Languages

Original Audio
English (South Africa)
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
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  • Türkiye (English)
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Latin America and the Caribbean

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  • Antigua and Barbuda
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  • Bahamas
  • Belize
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  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
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  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
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  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)