A Choral Christmas Celebration

In two concerts on Friday 16 December St Mary’s Cathedral will resound with exquisite Christmas music performed by the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir and Sinfonia Australis.

With choral works by Bach, Handel and Rutter, and a feast of favourite Christmas Carols, this concert is the ideal introduction to the Christmas Season.

Year after year sell-out crowds have been delighted by this traditional Christmas experience which sees the world-famous Choir, orchestra and celebrity readers offer glorious music and verse sure to fill every heart with Christmas cheer.

St Mary’s Cathedral Choir is acknowledged as the oldest musical ensemble in Australia, tracing its origins to 1818. Its angelic boy choristers sing with professional male adult singers, constituting Australia’s only fully-professional Cathedral Choir in the tradition of King’s College, Cambridge, and Westminster Cathedral.

In addition to providing music for over 500 church services in the Cathedral each year, the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir gives rare critically acclaimed concerts, and has performed in international festivals, as well as special performances for all the recent popes.

Thomas Wilson, Director of Music of the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir promises a programme of traditional and contemporary choral works and all the treasured favourite carols.

The Cathedral Choir will once again be joined by Sinfonia Australis, a chamber orchestra of some Australia’s finest players. The Orchestra is renowned for a number of recorded CDs made with solo voice and solo instrumentalists, including the complete set of Beethoven piano concertos with pianist Gerard Willems. The last of these has won a number of awards. Other projects include a co- presentation between ABC TV, ABC Classics and Opera Australia, and many more CD’s. Sinfonia Australis has also recorded soundtracks for several feature films including The Bank and The Boys.

The highlight for many audience members will be the opportunity to join in singing with the choir and orchestra for such favourite carols as ‘O Come, all ye faithful’, ‘Hark the herald angels sing’, ‘Once in royal David’s city’, and more.

At both concerts the Choir and Orchestra will be joined by celebrities and prominent public figures who will deliver seasonal readings throughout the concert.