The Sixteen at Christmas

If the prospect of the Christmas rush is already making you feel a little exhausted, make sure you book your ticket for this – an evening of serene seasonal music from one of Britain’s finest vocal ensembles. The Sixteen, led by the great Harry Christophers, will be providing plenty of familiar yuletide fare (though we suspect you’ll have never heard O Little Town of Bethlehem and In the Bleak Midwinter sound so good). They’ll also be performing some older works, less likely to be heard on doorsteps across the country.
O Magnum Mysterium, the chant often recited during the Christmas morning Mass, was set to music by many of the Renaissance greats. The programme includes versions by Byrd, Lauridsen, Palestrina and Victoria – an opportunity for the early music anoraks among us to compare and contrast, and a straightforward auditory feast for everybody else. The Sixteen are celebrated for the exceptional purity of their sound, which is just what these subtle polyphonic works need – and we have no doubt they’ll bring a festive radiance to everything they touch here. Highly recommended.