‘Noel! Noel!’ with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir
The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Christmas offering Noël! Noël! has become an annual fixture in the December calendar, offering a fine fare of seasonal music from the Baroque era, performed in style on period instruments, in the city and venues around Sydney. Now in its 14th year, the sell- out series eschews the popular classics presenting a refreshing and eclectic collection of rare choral and instrumental works.
This year’s concert opens with the Kyrie from Victoria’s Missa Trahe me post te, a work that the Brandenburg’s Artistic Director Paul Dyer heard during a recent trip to London. “Four weeks ago in London I felt like I’d been touched by angels. I heard a choir sing the most breathtaking, blissful and ethereal music and I knew I’d found a spectacular opening to this year’s Noël! Noël!,” he says. “I was at the famous Oratory on Brompton Road. I couldn’t find the music program anywhere but was so ecstatic about finding this gem that I chased a member of the choir leaving the church afterwards, pleading for the name of the work.”
Paul Dyer likens the concerts to a carefully blended and matured Christmas cake. “They are a joy for the audience, the players of the Orchestra, the singers of the Brandenburg Choir and for me. And like a great Christmas cake, there are specific ingredients….We perform traditional carols and luscious baroque music, adding the flavours of the Brandenburg. It is a heady blend of European and Latin American rhythms and percussion, some medieval chant and quite a bit of fun.”
In a first for the orchestra, the 2012 series will feature the ancient cornetto, played by Matt Manchester. They will be joined by classical saxophonist Christina Leonard.
The concert series has generated two CDs, A Brandenburg Christmas a live recording of the 2010 Noël! Noël! which rose to #59 on the ARIA pop album charts, and before that, a live recording of the 1999 concert Noël! Noël! featuring soprano Sara McLiver.
The Programme:
Victoria Kyrie (Missa Trahe me post te)
Trad. (arr. Coelho) Let all Mortal Flesh, Neopolitan Lullaby, Coventry Carol, Little Drummer Boy and O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Gabrieli Angelus Domini
Biber The Annunciation
Trad. (arr. Dyer) The Cry (sopra la Carpinese)
Biber The Aria
Victoria Alma redemptoris mater a 8
Improvisation Passagalia andaluz
Cazzati Sonata La Stroza
Trad. (arr. The Blenders) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Merula Ciaconna
Gruber Silent Night
Wade ( arr. Willcocks) O Come, All Ye Faithful
3 SYDNEY CITY CONCERTS: Wed 12 December 7pm and Sat 15 December 5pm & 7pm
Ticket prices: From $61 / Under 30 from $26 (Booking fees may apply)
Bookings: City Recital Hall Box Office (02) 8256 2222 or book online at www.cityrecitalhall.com
6 SYDNEY + 1 WOLLONGONG CHURCH CONCERTS
PADDINGTON: Monday 10th December and Tuesday 11th December, 7 pm, Church of St Francis of Assisi
Adult $75 / Under 30 $55, booking fee may apply
CREMORNE: Sunday 16th December, 6.30 pm., St Peter’s Anglican Church
Adult $75 / Under 30 $55, booking fee may apply
NEWTOWN: Monday 17th December, 7 pm St Stephen’s Anglican Church.
Tickets: Adult $65 / Under 30 $43 plus booking fee
WOLLONGONG: Friday 14th December, 7.30 pm, St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral
Tickets: Adult $55 / Under 30 $32 plus booking fee.
PARRAMATTA: Tuesday 18th December, 7.30 pm, St Patrick’s Cathedral
Tickets: Adult $65 / Under 30 $43 plus booking fee
Bookings: Brandenburg Box Office (02) 9328 7581 or book online at www.brandenburg.com.au
All church concerts are General Admission.
