24 November 2020
In-person Christmas concerts announced
We are delighted that December will see our first performances to live audiences since March, as we present a festive programme in Oxford, London, and York, bringing together stunning Renaissance music and poetry for Advent and Christmas.
The challenges of COVID-19 have left many Advent services and Christmas concerts cancelled this year. For all who will miss them, we have assembled a unique and beautiful sequence of words and music, inspired by the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Masterpieces by some of the finest composers of the Renaissance alternate with intimate verse by poets such as John Donne and George Herbert. Our programme includes works by Byrd, Tallis, Victoria, Josquin, Aleotti and Guerrero, and culminates in John Sheppard’s spectacular Verbum caro factum est.
We selling tickets directly for the performances in Oxford and London via our dedicated tickets page. We will give two performances in at the University Church, Oxford, on 11th December (6pm and 8.30pm), and one performance on 18th December at St Mary Abbots Church, London W8, at 6pm. Each performance will last for one hour, without interval. Both venues are following COVID-safe measures, and seating will be in household bubbles, with each bubble socially distanced from the others. Audience space is limited to 60 people per performance in Oxford, and 120 in London, so early booking is advised. Within the constraints of fitting in bubbles with appropriate distance, we will allocate seating from front to back in order of booking.