Celebrate the season of Advent with this stunning selection of repertoire, ranging from Gregorian chant through to a spirited version of much-loved traditional The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The centrepiece of this programme is Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols for upper voices and harp – a series of captivating miniatures in which Britten sets haunting melodies alongside moments of joyous declamation. The programme also features a new commission by English composer Joanna Marsh, and traditional carols such as In the Bleak Midwinter and Silent Night to welcome in the festive season.

Programme

Plainchant O come, o come Emmanuel
Adrian Peacock Veni, veni Emmanuel
Plainchant O radix Jesse
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange Advent ‘O’ Carol
Joanna Marsh New commission for male voices (world premiere)
Benjamin Britten A Ceremony of Carols
INTERVAL
James Burton O Thoma!
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Four carols from O magnum mysterium
Gustav Holst In the Bleak Midwinter
Peter Warlock Benedicamus Domino
Arnold Bax I Sing of a Maiden
Sally Beamish In The Stillness
Bob Chilcott The Shepherd’s Carol
Jonathan Rathbone The Oxen
Gruber arr. Jonathan Rathbone Silent Night
Traditional arr. Ian Humphris Twelve Days of Christmas

Artist Information

Tenebrae
Nigel Short conductor
Olivia Jageurs harp

Artist(s)

Nigel Short, Tenebrae