THE Chapter House Choir is sticking with last year's controversial decision to switch Carols By Candlelight from the Chapter House that gave the choir its name to the much larger Nave in York Minster.
As in 2013, the choir will perform on only one night, December 19 rather than the traditional three below stairs.
"The greater capacity of the Nave has proved a hit with audiences, with demand for tickets being high," asserts the press release. Purists, traditionalists, may not share this enthusiasm for change, but art versus commercialism is an argument that tends to have one outcome.
The more, the merrier? Time will tell, but a concert on a bigger scale enables the participation of the York Railway Institute Band next Friday, much to the delight of the York choir's musical director, Stephen Williams.
"Their promotion to the championship section of the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain is a testament to their excellent musicianship," he says. "We’re very much looking forward to performing with the band, to bring our audience a really special celebration of Christmas.”
The 7.30pm programme will feature traditional and modern carols sung by the choir, pieces from the York Railway Institute Band and the festive peal of hand bells from the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir. Hand bells have been a traditional feature of Carols by Candlelight throughout the concert’s 49-year history, having been introduced by Andrew Carter, the choir’s founding musical director and present vice-president.
Carter celebrated his 75th birthday in October and Carols by Candlelight this year will include his setting of the carol A Maiden Most Gentle, a piece he wrote for the Bar Convent in York, since when it has been performed at the Christmas Eve service of carols broadcast by BBC Radio 4 from King’s College, Cambridge.
Tickets are available at £10 to £28 from the York Minster box office, 01904 557208, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm; online at yorkminster.org; and from inside the Minster, Monday to Saturday, 9.20am to 4.30pm.
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