In 2016, Richard Bannan’s first Christmas as our Musical Director, we performed Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Ten years on, we return to the same sequence of medieval poetry that inspired Britten, reimagined through a beautiful programme of choral music from across the centuries.

As Richard explains: “One of the hallmarks of Petros Singers, not only under my direction but well established by my predecessors, is the choir’s refusal to be constrained by repertoire conventions or predictable programming. Marking ten years since my first Christmas concert with the choir felt like the perfect opportunity to reflect on that journey.

For singers, text is our USP; instrumentalists only get songs without words! Returning to the poetry Britten chose for his seminal Ceremony, while exploring how a range of composers have responded to those same texts, offers both an intriguing musical challenge and a fresh way of experiencing these timeless words.”

Do join us for this special concert celebrating the richness and enduring appeal of the Christmas choral tradition, as we usher in the festive season with glorious music, candlelight, mulled wine and mince pies – not forgetting the much-loved audience carols.


Programme
Welcome, Yule! – Sir C. Hubert H. Parry
That Yonge Child – Martin Read
Balulalow – Peter Warlock
This Little Babe – Richard Bannan
Behold a Silly Tender Babe – Paul Hillier
Lully, Lulla – Kenneth Leighton
A Spotless Rose – Herbert Howells
There is a Flower – John Rutter
Pleasure It Is – William Cornish
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – John Gardner
A Babe Is Born – William Mathias
Adam Lay Ybounden – Boris Ord
Gaudete – Stephen Sametz


Tickets
£22 | £18 concessions | £8 age 30 and under