A Christmas Cracker

WORLD PREMIERE

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The world premiere of VOCES8’s orchestral Christmas programme – Bob Chilcott’s The Sleeping Child composed for VOCES8 during lockdown, starry new orchestral carol arrangements by Taylor Scott Davis and the orchestral premiere of Adrian Peacock’s high octane Venite, Gaudete! Conducted by Barnaby Smith and guest led by Jack Liebeck, the VOCES8 Orchestra and VOCES8 Foundation Choir will also share arrangements by Jim Clements, Thomas Hewitt Jones and Christopher Moore, all wrapped up with seasonal readings by Richard Leaf and Tamsin Greig.

Plus Young Performer spotlight performance from Barnsley Youth Choir. 

Returning

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A time of passing, of isolation, grief, confusion, hope, and a joyful returning.  Music by Ayanna Woods, Michael Gilbertson, John Tavener, James Primosch, and Hubert Parry, Returning brings home the strife but also hope of the social unrest in America, while reaching into our memory to find the connection that is somehow stronger as a product of our separation.

Christmas With The King's Singers

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Marking the launch of the group’s new Christmas album, this programme takes a festive spin on the ensemble’s 'Finding Harmony' mission, combining a unique selection of Christmas favourites from all over the world, with lesser-known gems and some brand-new surprises.

A Deep But Dazzling Darkness…

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Conjuring up the wonder of winter’s changing landscape. As an owl sees through the night, Apollo5’s “exceptionally beautiful singing” (Classic FM), illuminates the magical quality of dark winter nights whilst lending crystalline clarity to the rarely heard consort performances of each piece. Apollo5 premieres its new album in concert especially for LIVE From London.

Handel: Messiah

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VOCES8's last Messiah gained a 5* review in The Observer. Filmed in the magnificent surroundings of St Judes-on-the-Hill and its beautiful Lutyens architecture, choruses sung by a consort choir led by VOCES8, accompanied by the VOCES8 Baroque Orchestra and featuring a stellar line-up of soloists: Mary Bevan, Tim Mead, Nicholas Mulroy and former VOCES8 bass, Dingle Yandell, recently returned from his Glyndebourne debut. 

Plus Young Performer spotlight performance from iSing Silicon Valley.

Christmas At St. Olaf 

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For many people in the United States, the celebration of the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany season begins as they wind their way through the majestic limestone buildings of St Olaf College during the first weekend of December to attend the annual Christmas Festival.

First held in 1912, it is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States. It features more than 500 members of the college’s world-renowned choirs - and the St Olaf Orchestra - and includes familiar carols and diverse contemporary pieces that celebrate the Norwegian American history of the college while also highlighting beautiful works from around the globe.

A Renaissance Christmas

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LIVE From London favourites Stile Antico present a unique and beautiful sequence inspired by the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Brought to you from the glowing setting of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the programme features masterpieces by some of the finest composers of the Renaissance alternated with readings of intimate, metaphysical verse by poets such as John Donne and George Herbert. Works include:

Byrd – Rorate caeli

Herbert – The Flower

Praetorius – Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

Herbert – Peace

Philips – Hodie nobis de caelo

Josquin des Prez – Ave Maria

Praetorius – Magnificat quinti toni

Tallis – Videte miraculum

Hassler – Hodie Christus natus est

Alleoti – Angelus ad Pastores ait

Angels & Demons: Christmas Revels From Baroque Europe

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Angels singing to confused shepherds - the devil “shooting up in the air like a rocket!” - I Fagiolini brings an animated cast of Christmas characters to life in foot-tapping music from Italy, Germany and Spain. A hypnotic Neapolitan 'tarantula' dance wards off Lucifer, while from Salamanca, a villancico for voices, strings and percussion brings the "the Devil down in flames!"  At the other end of the scale Bach's ‘pizzicato’ paints Advent knocking on the door of Christ's arrival, while Monteverdi's much-loved 'Beatus vir' gives a taste of Christmas Vespers. I Fagiolini returns to LIVE From London Christmas aiming to outdo its memorable 2020 Christmas Eve concert… hold on to your halos!

Monteverdi - Beatus Vir

Bach - Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61)

Byrd - Lullaby

Caresana - La Tarantella

Iribarren - Xacara de Navidad

BACH & PRAETORIUS FOR CHRISTMAS

5 CONCERTS

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Following the group’s acclaimed performances of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in LIVE From London Christmas last year, Gabrieli returns to the festival to delight audiences with five programmes featuring Bach’s other festive cantatas. Running from the first day of Christmas through to the New Year and Epiphany, this project will showcase some of the world’s finest Bach singers alongside Gabrieli’s renowned players, all led by Artistic Director, Paul McCreesh.

In addition to Bach's glorious music, each programme will include works by the equally festive Michael Praetorius, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the composer’s death, and performed by young singers from Gabrieli’s choral training programme, Gabrieli Roar. Gabrieli's famed and much-loved recording of Praetorius' Christmas mass remains the ensemble’s best-selling album.

Celebrate Christmas and ring in a brighter 2022 with this uplifting feast of Christmastide music.