The Leicester Bach Choir is preparing to launch its 98th concert season with a spectacular performance featuring one of Britain's most cherished Christmas works. The celebrated choir will present Benjamin Britten's beloved Ceremony of Carols alongside an impressive programme of classical pieces.
Stellar Musical Lineup
International harpist Jean Kelly and acclaimed organist Simon Hogan will join the choir for this special season-opening event. Jean Kelly, a London-based musician known for her diverse repertoire spanning classical, folk and modern works, brings international experience having performed in Russia, Austria, Ireland and throughout Britain with her band Ranagri.
Simon Hogan, the assistant organist at Southwark Cathedral in south London, has built a reputation for his brilliant recitals across the country. The choir's chair, Adam Scott, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "We are delighted to welcome Jean Kelly to accompany the Ceremony of Carols along with Simon. He has performed with the Leicester Bach Choir before and we are delighted that he has returned to play with us again."
Concert Programme and Historical Significance
The programme, titled "Joy and Wonder", showcases Britten's Ceremony of Carols, which Scott describes as "a wonderful setting for full choir". He noted the historical context of the piece: "The Ceremony of Carols was written during the Second World War but recreates the Christmas-tide chants and texts of the medieval English church."
The concert features a rich selection of additional works including Camille Saint-Saens' Quam dilecta, Gounod's arrangement of Bach's Ave Maria, Peteris Vasks' Laudate Dominum, Alexandre Guilmant's Ecce Panis and Bach's Bist du Bei Mir arranged by Jon Washburn. The ladies of the choir will also perform hymns from Gustav Holst's Rig Veda.
Event Details and Ticket Information
The concert will take place at St James the Greater church on London Road in Leicester on Saturday, November 29, beginning at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be available during the interval, providing audience members with an opportunity to socialise and discuss the performance.
Tickets are priced at £20 when purchased in advance online or from choir members, while tickets purchased on the door will cost £23. This represents excellent value for an evening of world-class choral music featuring internationally recognised performers.
The event marks a significant milestone for the Leicester Bach Choir as it approaches its centenary season, demonstrating the continuing vitality of classical music in the Leicester community and the enduring appeal of Britten's Christmas masterpiece.
