Tudor Choristers present a lovely occasion to see the 2024 season out

by | Dec 11, 2024 | Ambassador thoughts, Choirs

Tudor Choristers | Sing Nowell!

December 10, 2024, Camberwell, VIC

The Tudor Choristers Christmas concert is a tradition which is a great indicator of musical tastes and trends of the year. 2024 is a delightful mixed bag, or allsorts, as mixed lollies were called where I grew up. 

Music Director Carlos del Cueto assembled a diverse mix of carols and sacred music for the season, from England, Spain, Germany, Georgia, Russia and Australia. There was a great variety, and just enough of each, so that we left wanting more. And more we were promised, in the 2025 season. 

Traditional carols, some sing along, such as Once in Royal David’s City, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and, O come, all ye faithful, were familiar and sung ‘lustily and with good courage’ as John Wesley famously encouraged. 

William Byrd’s O Magnum Mysterium, the hymn of wonder at the birth of the Christ, was followed by a fabulously hearty traditional Georgian carol sung by the men of the choir. 

Gustav Holst’s This Have I Done for My True Love was pure storytelling, as each verse travels in the footsteps of Jesus, from his birth to his crucifixion, descent into hell and ascension to heaven. All beautifully portrayed in the music and singing. Each time, the chorus seemed to gather the voices to the melody to great effect. 

The soloist for the Holst was Amanda Hargreave, who was heard a few times in the program, and who has a bright and powerful soprano voice, which was matched well against the ensemble.

This was repeated in Michael Praetorius Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Cherubic Hymn in D. Both beautiful examples of their place and period, and executed in the original style and language. The final Alleluia! of the Cherubic Hymn raised the roof. An impressive feat, considering the venue being the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell!

The Aussie carols – Carol of the Birds, The Three Drovers and The North Wind – all by James and Wheeler are firm favourites across the country. Peter Sculthorpe’s Morning Song for the Christ Child was an excellent contrast to the traditional sound of the other works and obviously stretched the choir technically. 

I’m so happy that there was a Spanish section to the program, which consisted of five carols, each one with its own character, soaring melody and infectious rhythms: Verbum Caro Factus Est, Dadme Albricias, Rey a Quien Reyes Adoran, Yo Me Soy La Morencia and Riu Riu Chiu.  Lovely solos from Amanda Hargreaves and even a sneaky (and fun) solo by Carlos himself.

Big thanks to Shauna Beesley who accompanied throughout on the piano. It was a lovely occasion to see the 2024 season out with enough teasers to fill us with excitement and anticipation for 2025. 

 

 

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About The Author

Pepe Newton

Pepe is classikON's Managing Director. She is an avid concert-goer and self confessed choir nerd, regularly performing and touring with no less than 5 different choirs to countries ranging from Poland to Cuba over the last few years. Through her board positions in choirs and her role with classikON she is actively involved in the exciting Australian art music scene, including the promotion and commissioning of new Australian music. Running classikON presents a perfect opportunity for Pepe to pair her love of classical music with her ‘real life’ qualifications in business management and administration.

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