It requires no religious fervour to be moved by the sound of an orchestra and over 100 singers in full voice belting out “O Holy Night” in the days before Christmas. It does not even require one to know the Adolphe Adam hymn via the Home Alone soundtrack, though that might help the otherwise chorally uninitiated. The power of the sound emanating from the stage of Liverpool’s beautiful 1930s Philharmonic Hall is enough to warm the coldest heart and instil, just for a naïve moment, the notion that the holidays are about more than the Argos catalogue; if not the nativity then friends and family at least, surely.
“O Holy Night” came wedged between a series of festive heavyweights – “Silent Night” and the “Carol of the Bells” among them – as part of a smorgasbord programme of song, music and readings. And yet it was this piece that lingered after the final notes of the Liverpool Philharmonic’s Spirit of Christmas concert died away. That and baritone soloist Roderick Williams’ only slightly naff encore of 1953 earworm “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas”, which most of the audience were humming on their way out despite the two preceding hours of world class music.
In fairness to those hummers, the audience participation elements of the main concert were somewhat slow of tempo – “Away in a Manger”, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” among them – and “Hippopotamus” does allow for a little more carefree warbling.
Indeed, to nitpick about the programme, it would have been nice to join in from the grand circle with a bit of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” or “Jingle Bells” – both of which featured in the line-up but sung from the stage only – rather than being restricted to a handful of religious carols.
Classical music isn't dead yet - these 10 performances this year proved it
Read MoreThere was little else to criticise in this warm hug of a concert, which Williams hosted amiably in addition to unleashing his rich voice on pieces including the atmospheric and gentle “Peace on Earth”, by Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen, who earlier this year became the first black woman to hold the post of Master of the King’s Music. For this he was accompanied by the Liverpool Philharmonic’s Youth Choir, a deeply impressive group of teenagers who complemented the adult choir throughout the programme as well as taking on “Noel”, a spiritual in the Central African Kituba dialect, which was an interesting but slightly stilted addition to the running order.
Overall, however, this was a packed programme of high quality music, delivered at enough of a lick to prevent proceedings dragging, and with a skilful balance of predictable numbers and the less so. This Spirit of Christmas was pure, distilled festive cheer.
Spirit of Christmas is at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall until 23 December liverpoolphil.com
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Spirit of Christmas is pure festive cheer )
Also on site :
- Which Stevie Nicks Song Matches You, Based on Zodiac Sign
- Met Office: Thunderstorm warning issued for parts of England in midst of 33C heatwave
- Pro-Palestinian activists break into UK military base