Wonderful choral music for Christmas: the Christmas concerts performed by the choir of St John’s College in Cambridge form a beloved staple during the Advent period in the UK. Regularly broadcast by the BBC, the performances of the now world-famous vocal ensemble are always a special highlight in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Accompanied by the concert organist Thomas Trotter, the choir, which has existed since the 17th century, brings a programme of beautiful English Christmas music to the Elbphilharmonie. Christopher Gray, who has also been Director of Music at St John’s College since 2023, conducts the choir that consists of 13 children and young people, as well as 18 adult voices. The choir has included girls and women alongside boys and men since 2022 – a unique innovation among the traditional choirs of Oxford and Cambridge.
Peformers
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
Thomas Trotter organ
conductor Christopher Gray
Programme
»Christmas Carols«
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The programme in detail
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
CHOIR
Sally Beamish (*1956): In the Stillness
English Traditional / Philip Ledger (1937–2012): On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol)
Tamsin Jones (*1972): Noel: Verbum caro factum est
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) aus: Erde, Hölle und Himmel / Christus MWV A 26
Rezitativ: When Jesus, our Lord, was born
Choir: There shall a star from Jacob come forth
Choral: How brightly beams the morning star!
Russell Pascoe (*1959): What Child is this
William Whitehead (*1970): The Seven Joys of MaryORGAN
John Nicholson Ireland (1879–1962): Capriccio
Marcel Dupré (1886–1971): Variations sur un Noël op. 20 (1922)Interval
ORGAN
Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706): Choralvorspiel: Vom Himmel hoch da komm’ ich her (1693)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Choralvorspiel: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 (1748)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847): Ouvertüre aus dem Oratorium »Paulus« op. 36 (1836)CHOIR
Jonathan Dove (*1959): Magnificat (for the church sevice in St John's) (2022)
Traditional / Herbert Howells (1892–1983): Three Carol-Anthems (1919)
A Spotless Rose
Sing Lullaby
Here is the Little Door
Becky McGlade (*1974): In the Bleak Midwinter
John Gardner (1917–2011): Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (1965)
Feel like singing too? :The Elbphilharmonie’s Christmas Organ Karaoke
