At Christmas, our attention turns to the birth of Jesus, but during Advent, the focus is on his mother as she herself travels to Bethlehem. The Ave Maria and the Magnificat – Mary’s song upon learning she is to become the Mother of Christ – are amongst the most sung words in choral music, here set by Clemens non Papa and Esquivel. Alongside them we sing more traditional Christmas repertoire, like of Lo, how a rose e’er blooming and Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, set in German and Latin by Distler and Sweelinck. The programme is completed with seasonal curiosities including Poulenc’s composition inspired by a trip to the Black Virgin statue in Rocamadour, and two lullabies from Mary to her newborn son by H. Praetorius and Byrd.
With music representing Italian, French, Spanish, Germanic, Flemish and English musical traditions, interspersed with traditional Christmas carols, we hope to take you with us round the churches and Christmas markets of Europe before landing you home again. In the interval, there will be wine, mince pies and their European relatives, Panettone and Stollen.