Meet Christopher Stokes
We caught up with Christopher Stokes, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Manchester Cathedral, ahead of our performance of Handel's Messiah on Saturday 6th December 2025 at Manchester Cathedral.
Manchester Baroque have collaborated with the Cathedral Choir in annual Messiah and Passion performances. What attracts you to historical performance and working with period instrument players, and how do you find the relationship between the Cathedral Choir and Manchester Baroque?
“The relationship with Manchester Baroque is of great importance and significance to the Cathedral and to me personally. There is a great synergy, musically speaking, between the two organisations, which adds up to more than the sum of the parts; and, of course, a huge amount of fun is had! Performing on period instruments reveals so much of how to understand and, hopefully, interpret music of that time. The clarity and beauty of the period instrument sound-world oxygenates the textures and allows for great expressivity.”
What are the challenges of conducting a performance of Messiah?
“As with all great oratorios, there is a great variety of character between each piece. The challenge is to reflect those characters and changes of mood, so that the architecture of the work and shifts in dynamic makes sense to the audience. There are many technical challenges for the orchestra, particularly in the upper string writing.”
If someone is coming to a Messiah performance for the first time, are there any particular highlights that you suggest listening out for?
“Well, there isn't one dull moment in the work! Although it is definitely not an opera, the drama of the story and the highly charged emotional content single it out as perfect example of the form. The vibrancy of the vocal and orchestral writing is irresistible, especially in pieces Such as ‘The trumpet shall sound,’ and, of course the Hallelujah chorus."
How does the performance of Messiah fit in liturgically with the cathedral's Advent worship and the run up to Christmas?
“It fits perfectly as the whole Christmas story from the Annunciation to the birth of Christ is there for all to hear and enjoy.”
What do you enjoy doing outside of music making?
“Above all, my family: a son and daughter and three granddaughters, the latest being born on 26th February 2024. Other than that, a spot of cooking, lots of reading and walking and, most lately, the acquisition of a narrowboat!”