Your events at Classical Events
Highgate Choral Society sings St Nicholas
Britten St Nicolas, Haydn St Nicholas Mass
Part of the Highgate Choral Society 2017-2018 Season
Add to my Calendar 07-07-2018 19:00 07-07-2018 21:00 36 Highgate Choral Society sings St Nicholas Although we associate the person we have come to know as Santa Claus with the celebration of Christmas, Britten‘s St Nicolas was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of Lancing College, Sussex and was given its first official performance there in July 1948. However, there had been an unofficial première six weeks earlier as part of the opening concert for the first ever Aldeburgh Festival. Both were conducted by the composer, with the role of Nicolas sung by Britten’s partner, Peter Pears, a former pupil at the College. More than two centuries earlier Joseph Haydn composed his St Nicholas Massto celebrate the nameday, 6th December, of his employer, Prince Nicolaus Esterházy. The Mass follows the usual format of Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei and while it is comparatively short it shares all the trademarks of joy, vivacity and tunefulness as the masses he wrote in his old age. All Hallows Church, London DD/MM/YYYYDetails
All Hallows Church
Savernake Road
Gospel Oak
London
NW3 2JP
England
Programme
Benjamin Britten – St Nicolas, Op.42
Joseph Haydn – Missa Sancti Nicolai
Performers
Iúnó Connolly – soprano
Frances Gregory – Alto
Andrew Staples – Tenor
Dingle Yandell – Bass
Ronald Corp – Conductor
New London Children's Choir
New London Orchestra
Highgate Choral Society
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
Although we associate the person we have come to know as Santa Claus with the celebration of Christmas, Britten‘s St Nicolas was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of Lancing College, Sussex and was given its first official performance there in July 1948. However, there had been an unofficial première six weeks earlier as part of the opening concert for the first ever Aldeburgh Festival. Both were conducted by the composer, with the role of Nicolas sung by Britten’s partner, Peter Pears, a former pupil at the College.
More than two centuries earlier Joseph Haydn composed his St Nicholas Massto celebrate the nameday, 6th December, of his employer, Prince Nicolaus Esterházy. The Mass follows the usual format of Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei and while it is comparatively short it shares all the trademarks of joy, vivacity and tunefulness as the masses he wrote in his old age.
