Petros Singers: A Ceremony of Carols Revisited

Add to my Calendar 12-12-2026 19:00 12-12-2026 21:00 36 Petros Singers: A Ceremony of Carols Revisited In 2016, Richard Bannan’s first Christmas as Petros Singers' Musical Director, the choir performed Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Ten years on, they return to the same sequence of medieval poetry that inspired Britten, reimagined through a beautiful programme of choral music from across the centuries. As Richard explains: “One of the hallmarks of Petros Singers, not only under my direction but well established by my predecessors, is the choir’s refusal to be constrained by repertoire conventions or predictable programming. Marking ten years since my first Christmas concert with the choir felt like the perfect opportunity to reflect on that journey. For singers, text is our USP; instrumentalists only get songs without words! Returning to the poetry Britten chose for his seminal Ceremony, while exploring how a range of composers have responded to those same texts, offers both an intriguing musical challenge and a fresh way of experiencing these timeless words.” Do join Petros Singers for this special concert celebrating the richness and enduring appeal of the Christmas choral tradition, as we usher in the festive season with glorious music, candlelight, mulled wine and mince pies – not forgetting the much-loved audience carols.   Petros Singers is a leading West London chamber choir, performing a wide variety of music – from baroque to contemporary, from large-scale works to exquisite miniatures – placing particular emphasis on vibrant and communicative singing. Alex Knight combines a bustling freelance career as an organist, pianist, continuo player, conductor, music producer and teacher with his posts as Accompanist for Petros Singers, Chapel Organist at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and Musical Director for the Treble Chefs. Richard Bannan was a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge before embarking on a career as a professional vocal musician, arranger and teacher. He now sings as a Lay-Clerk at  St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and with many of the country’s major professional ensembles. St Peter's Church, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

St Peter's Church
Black Lion Lane
Hammersmith
London
W6 9BE
England

Tickets

Prices: £22 | £18 concessions | £8 age 30 and under
Book Tickets

Programme

Charles Hubert Hastings ParryWelcome, Yule!
John JoubertThere is no Rose of Such Virtue, Op.14
Peter WarlockBalulalow
Lennox BerkeleyI sing of a maiden
Boris OrdAdam Lay Ybounden
John IrelandThe Holy Boy
Steven SametzGaudete
Kenneth LeightonLully, lulla, thou little tiny child
John GardnerTomorrow shall be my dancing day
William MathiasA babe is born
Herbert HowellsA spotless rose
John RutterThere is a flower
Cecilia McDowallOf a Rose

Performers

Alex Knight – organ
Richard Bannan – Director of Music

Petros Singers

Programme Note

In 2016, Richard Bannan’s first Christmas as Petros Singers' Musical Director, the choir performed Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Ten years on, they return to the same sequence of medieval poetry that inspired Britten, reimagined through a beautiful programme of choral music from across the centuries.

As Richard explains: “One of the hallmarks of Petros Singers, not only under my direction but well established by my predecessors, is the choir’s refusal to be constrained by repertoire conventions or predictable programming. Marking ten years since my first Christmas concert with the choir felt like the perfect opportunity to reflect on that journey.

For singers, text is our USP; instrumentalists only get songs without words! Returning to the poetry Britten chose for his seminal Ceremony, while exploring how a range of composers have responded to those same texts, offers both an intriguing musical challenge and a fresh way of experiencing these timeless words.”

Do join Petros Singers for this special concert celebrating the richness and enduring appeal of the Christmas choral tradition, as we usher in the festive season with glorious music, candlelight, mulled wine and mince pies – not forgetting the much-loved audience carols.

 

Petros Singers is a leading West London chamber choir, performing a wide variety of music – from baroque to contemporary, from large-scale works to exquisite miniatures – placing particular emphasis on vibrant and communicative singing.

Alex Knight combines a bustling freelance career as an organist, pianist, continuo player, conductor, music producer and teacher with his posts as Accompanist for Petros Singers, Chapel Organist at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and Musical Director for the Treble Chefs.

Richard Bannan was a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge before embarking on a career as a professional vocal musician, arranger and teacher. He now sings as a Lay-Clerk at  St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and with many of the country’s major professional ensembles.

Detail of a medieval mosaic, courtesy of Bikanski @ pixnio

Get a route map

Your Map

If you have any questions, please contact us using the form below, or send an e-mail to [email protected].

All form fields are required.

Please check your details and try again.

Thank you for contacting us. We will contact you regarding your enquiry as soon as possible.