Oxford Harmonic Choir - Saint-Saёns: Christmas Oratorio; Finzi: In Terra Pax; Bruch: Gruß an die heilige Nacht; Holst: Christmas Day
Saturday 29 November, 19:30
Sheldonian Theatre
Jeni Bern - Soprano
Lauren Young - Mezzo
Rhonda Browne - Alto
Robyn Lyn Evans - Tenor
Samuel Pantcheff - Baritone
We celebrate Christmas this year with 4 lesser-known works from 3 very contrasting traditions. Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël (1858) is delicate and pastoral, with impressively rich instrumental colours despite the small size of the orchestra used. Gerald Finzi’s In terra pax (Peace on Earth, 1954) is as wintry as it is quintessentially English, but is filled with glimmers of light that shine through its general atmosphere of wistful nostalgia. Max Bruch’s Gruß an die heilige Nacht (Greeting to the Holy Night, 1892) uses huge chords to create a subdued, reverent atmosphere entirely appropriate to the significance of Christ’s Nativity. Lastly, the arrangement of several well-known carols that is Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day (1910) offers a seasonal dose of comforting familiarity.
Event Information
Doors open: 19:00
Event starts: 19:30
Running Time: 90 minutes with a 20 minute interval
Age range: Not recommended for very young children
Latecomers permitted.
Ticket Information
Ticket price: £15 - £30
Wheelchair users may bring a companion/carer for free.