Classical and Jazz: Latest News > December 9
Published: 9 December, 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
THEY’RE not quite burning the candle at both ends. But there’ll certainly be a lot of candle-burning going at St Martin-in-the-Fields over the festive season as more than a dozen Christmas Carols by Candlelight draw in the crowds.
At each concert there will be two free-standing candelabra with eight branches of tall wax candles on each side of the stage, together with eight branches of six oil candles in each of the windows and 40 tea lights around the bases of the church column. In all, that makes more than 1,000 candles over the festive season as a whole.
Audiences will be to participate in renderings of traditional carols.
Tomorrow tea-time (Friday), for instance, family carols are being led by the high-calibre Vivace Chorus.
Then, in the evening, Christmas music sung by the English Baroque Choir accompanied by the Brandenburg Brass will include pieces by composers ranging from Bach (O Little Sweet One) to Wood (Ding Dong Merrily on High).
Saturday’s carols by the Vivamus Choir of young post-graduates and professionals will involve music by composers ranging from Britten (Wolcum Yole!) to Taverner (A hymn to the Mother of God).
On Thursday, it will be the turn of the exuberant and technically brilliant Tallis Chamber Choir singing such works as Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Next Saturday, Kentish Town conductor Ivor Setterfield will be in action twice: at tea-time, carols for shoppers and then an evening Christmas Celebration, both with his New London Singers, but without candles.
St Martin’s says booking is heavy for most events but seats are still available.