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Christmas Tales

Sakari Oramo conducts the 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Britten's St Nicholas with tenor Robin Tritschler and Finzi's In Terra Pax with Ailish Tynan and Benson Wilson.

Before the red-cloaked, bushy-bearded St Nicholas squeezes himself down your chimney, discover the legends behind the 3rd-century bishop who would go on to inspire the Santa Claus myth. The 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra and Chorus reunite at the Barbican for Benjamin Britten鈥檚 captivating cantata, which recounts Nicholas鈥檚 life from birth to death.

As a child one Christmas Eve, Gerald Finzi climbed a local hill and heard the church bells ring out over his beloved Gloucestershire. This inspired his 鈥楥hristmas Scene鈥�, imagining Christ鈥檚 nativity in an idyllically frozen, picture-postcard English countryside setting. It is performed here in its 1956 chamber orchestra arrangement. From frozen Finland, Jean Sibelius鈥檚 Rakastava (The Lover) opens this wintry concert, based on folk stories from Karelia 鈥� borderlands between modern Russia and Finland.

Live from the Barbican Hall, London
Presented by Martin Handley

Jean Sibelius: Rakastava, Op.14
Gerald Finzi: In Terra Pax, Op.39

19.55
Interval

Elizabeth Maconchy
Viola Sonata: i) Allegro ii) Lento Moderato iii) Presto
Louise Williams (viola)
David Owen Norris (piano)

Benjamin Britten
Two Insect Pieces 鈥揟he Grasshopper; The Wasp
Heinz Holliger (oboe), Andr谩s Schiff (piano)

20.15
Benjamin Britten: Saint Nicolas, Op.42

Ailish Tynan (soprano)
Robin Tritschler (tenor)
Benson Wilson (baritone)
Finchley Children's Music Group (trebles)
麻豆社 Symphony Chorus
麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra
Neil Ferris (assistant conductor)
Sakari Oramo (conductor)

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Dec 2021 19:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Jean Sibelius

    Rakastava Op.14

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Gerald Finzi

    In Terra Pax Op.39 (Chamber Version)

    Performer: Benson Wilson. Choir: 麻豆社 Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Viola Sonata

    Performer: Louise Williams. Performer: David Owen Norris.
    • English Music Festival.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Two Insect Pieces - The Grasshopper, and the Wasp

    Performer: Heinz Holliger. Performer: Sir Andr谩s Schiff.
    • PHILIPS.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Saint Nicolas Op.42

    Performer: Robin Tritschler. Choir: 麻豆社 Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    L' Orfeo - Sinfonia & Hor Che'l Ciele La Terra

    Performer: Rinaldo Alessandrini. Ensemble: Concerto Italiano.
    • Na茂ve : OP 30566.
    • 狈补茂惫别.
    • 1-2.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Vagabond (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 1.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Let beauty awake (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 2.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Songs of travel for voice and piano, no.3; The Roadside Fire

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • ATMA Classique.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Youth and love (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 4.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    In dreams (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 5.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The infinite shining heavens from Songs of Travel

    Singer: Joshua Hopkins. Performer: Jerad Mosbey.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Whither must I wander? (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 7.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Bright is the ring of words (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 8.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    I have trod (Songs of Travel)

    Performer: Jerad Mosbey. Singer: Joshua Hopkins.
    • Let Beauty Awake: Joshua Hopkins/Jerad Mosbey.
    • Atma Classique.
    • 9.

Broadcast

  • Fri 3 Dec 2021 19:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3

Programme notes

Programme notes

Read and download the programme notes for this concert.