Join chamber choir Nota Bene as we celebrate the festive season with a performance of one of the most popular choral pieces for Christmas: Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols.

One of Britten’s best-known and most-performed works, A Ceremony of Carols is a brilliantly conceived and dramatic concert work. Variety is key, as all the carols have individual identities...the forthright Wolcum Yole!, the deliciously lyrical There is no Rose, the swinging Balulalow, and the fiery and dramatic This little Babe all contribute to a work that is a feast of discovery throughout. Lovely solos and duos add further colour and the harp accompaniment enriches, colours and surrounds the voices with its vivid musical imagery.

Based on medieval English carols with a Latin plainsong processional and recessional, Britten originally wrote this work for treble voices. Due to its popularity, the whole work was later arranged for mixed choir. We are excited to be performing this version with Michelle Velvin on harp.

In the second half of the programme we will bring you some beautiful atmospheric Christmas songs and we look forward to you joining us for our traditional sing-along carols, so bring your voices and share in the wonderful harmonies!

Our Christmas concert wouldn’t be complete without some kai. Please join us for afternoon tea as part of the concert.

Contact the host of NB Christmas: A Ceremony of Carols