Royal Free Singers with the Orchestra of London

About

Britten:  A Ceremony of Carols
Finzi:  In Terra Pax
Saint-Saëns:  Oratorio de Noël

Conductor:  Benedict Gunner

Looking forward to Christmas celebrations, our concert programme reflects the messages of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. With 5 soloists, we are delighted to be performing beautiful and atmospheric music from three celebrated composers: Paris born Camille Saint-Saëns from the 19th century Romantic period, and 20th century English composers Benjamin Britten and Gerald Finzi.

Britten's A Ceremony of Carols is one of his best known and most widely performed festive works.  This ever popular set of medieval carols blends ancient melodies with modern harmonies and is a wonderful and moving evocation of the hope and joy of Christmas.

Finzi's In Terra Pax, subtitled "Christmas Scene", is described by the composer as a vision of the Nativity seen by a wanderer on a dark and frosty Christmas Eve.  The piece juxtaposes two verses from Robert Bridge's poem, Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 with biblical text from the Gospel of St Luke describing the appearance of the angels to the shepherds.  This radiant and optimistic work unites the emotions and images of the familiar Christmas story into a compelling musical narrative.

Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël, composed in 1863, was his first major choral work and is widely performed and popular, thanks to its pastoral atmosphere, chamber music-like instrumentation and lyrical solo parts.  The text is taken from various biblical sources, ranging from the gospel of St. Luke to Psalms and Old Testament prophesies, a harp adding a celestial, shimmering quality.  The opening prelude mimics Bach's pastoral tone and sets the scene for the Christmas story, evoking the quiet and chill of a winter night outside the stable in Bethlehem.