Oxford’s Orchestra of St John’s has come up with a festive musical feast to be proud of this Christmas.
Following an extensive autumn programme CHECK IT OUT HERE the music will be ringing out this Christmas with a glorious concoction of December concerts.
Kicking off on Sunday 3 December at SJE Arts BOOK HERE and on Saturday 9 December at Dorchester Abbey BOOK HERE enjoy carols and Britten’s Saint Nicolas Cantata.
Written in 1948, Britten’s captivating Cantata conjures the adventures of St Nicholas, depicting the exploits, magic and miracles of this iconic character.
‘We look forward to warmly welcoming one-and-all to our uplifting Christmas season’
Starting with a Sequence of Carols arranged by Jeremy Lubbock, OSJ Voices and tenor Dominic Bevan will join together with the audience to raise the roof in song, ensuring that the Christmas music is delivered in perfect harmony;
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without Handel’s great oratorio and Handel’s Messiah follows on soon afterwards at both Dorchester Abbey on December 16 BOOK HERE and SJE Arts on Dec 17 BOOK HERE.
A true festive tradition, don’t miss this triumphant celebration of Christmas.
This seasonal classic will be performed by renowned soprano soloists Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie and Ellie Edmonds, alto Charlie Tetley, tenor Dominic Bevan, bass Daniel Barrett and the full festive forces of the Orchestra of St John’s and OSJ Voices.
As if that wasn’t enough, the OSJ New Years Eve Concert is back at Dorchester Abbey from 6pm-8pm with fizz, toe-tapping favourites, orchestra and choir in this this much-loved event. BOOK HERE
The highlight of OSJ’s orchestral year, it’s a delightful way to usher in the New Year and will feature Dohnanyi Variations on a Nursery Tune, Litolff Scherzo from Concerto Symphonique No 4 in D minor, plus overtures and dances by Strauss, Offenbach, Rossini, Glazunov, Tchaikovsky, Waldteufel and Hahn.
‘performers and audience members come together to enjoy music-making of the highest quality’
Rupert Egerton-Smith, piano will be regaling his delighted audiences on the piano accompanied by OSJ Voices, Orchestra of St John’s, and of course the maestro himself conductor John Lubbock.
‘I hope that you’ll discover something new, something surprising and a lot of something you love’
“The Orchestra of St John’s is now in its 56th year, and as ever I can’t wait to embark on our latest season which features our wonderfully talented orchestral members, singers and superb guest soloists,” John says.
“From Mozart to Mendelssohn, I hope that you’ll discover something new, something surprising and a lot of something you love.
“As well as our regular concerts at SJE Arts and Dorchester Abbey we continue our Music For Autumn programme in schools and our work serenading NHS workers in Oxfordshire hospitals.
“We round off in style at Christmas, with our traditional performances of Handel’s Messiah and a joyous New Year’s Eve concert. We look forward to warmly welcoming one-and-all to our uplifting Christmas season, where both performers and audience members come together to enjoy music-making of the highest quality.” More details on the full concert programme HERE
