December
Festival of Angels 2012
The Festival of Angels one of York's most magical winter festivals and will be held on the 15th and 16th December this year across the streets of Swinegate, Back Swinegate and Grape Lane. This beautiful Christmas festival is guaranteed to raise everybody's festive spirits as York's unique streets will be transformed into a winter wonderland with snow sprinkled around creating Christmas cheer like no other.
Take the time out of your busy Christmas shopping schedule and go visit all the beautiful and exquisite ice sculptures, watch the street entertainers and have a look around all the stalls after grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many food and drink stands. The festival will end on Sunday where there will be a parade of Angel’s led by the stunning Golden Angel.
With the promise of snow and a visit from Santa the weekend is set to be a truly magical experience that will be fun for all the family. What better reason could there be to brave the cold?
York Early Music Christmas Festival
To start with on the 1st of December 2012 the Early Music Centre are holding a Christmas music festival that will feature a brilliant line up of young artists from across the world to participate in a special one day international Young Artists Showcase.
Extremely talented young groups of artists will each be featured within the showcase. These groups will consist of:
- Les Ombres who will be presenting a programme of 'Telemann in Paris'
- Borromini Quartet's 'Invention and Innovation' features works by Boccherini, Mozart and Haydn.
- Den Haag Piano Quintet will be performing Schubert's evergreen 'Trout' Quintet.
The showcase will then be completed by the fascinating film documentary 'Hebreo' : the Search for Salomone Rossi. This film by Joseph Rochlitz will feature Profeti della Quinta, winners of the 2011 International Young Artists Competition. A rare performance will then be given on the evening on the 1st of December by the entire Bach Christmas Oratorio. Given by the Yorkshire Back Choir it is the perfect way to lead in to the York Early Christmas Festival.
Then from the 9th of December to the 15th the festival will continue with these not to be missed performances:
- Chalemie presents 'Mr Fezziwig's Ball' a not-to-be-missed family occasion featuring music, readings and dances recreating the spirit of Mr Fezziwig's Christmas party from Dickens' 'Christmas Carol'. The multi-talented ensemble Chalemie joins forces with York's Minster Minstrels to perform readings from Dickens and carols for all to sing. Sunday 9 December at 7.30pm. NCEM, St Margaret's Church.
- Joglaresa feature the Welsh singing and fiddling diva extraordinaire, Sianed Jones, mixing together their extraordinary musical heritage with spellbinding medieval and folk carols in a festive programme entitled 'Blow Northerne Wynd'. Monday 10 December at 7.30pm. Concert by Candlelight, NCEM, St Margaret's Church.
- Koshka - virtuoso gypsy violinist Oleg Ponomarev, Lev Atlas violin and Nigel Clark guitar present 'Russian Winter & Gypsy Fire' celebrating the uninhibited joy of Gypsy music interspersed with tales and anecdotes of the traditions of winter and Christmas in their native Russia. Tuesday 11 December 7.30pm. Concert by Candlelight, NCEM, St Margaret's Church.
- University of York Chamber Choir and Baroque Ensemble directed by Peter Seymour. A festive programme of choral and instrumental music: Bach's Magnificat, Charpentier's Te Deum and his joyous Messe de Minuit and Corelli's glorious Christmas Concerto which references the pastoral setting of the Nativity in its lilting final movement. Wednesday 12 December at 7.30pm. Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York.
- English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble : A Hanseatic Christmas . A seasonal recital which recreates the colour and variety of 17th century German musical life, with a selection of Christmas music, some vocal, some instrumental, tunes familiar and unfamiliar, played on the beautiful old wind instruments of the time. Thursday 13 December at 7.30pm. NCEM, St Margaret's Church.
- University of Huddersfield Chamber Choir and Early Music Ensemble : 'Musicke ... so delectable, so rare' John Bryan directs the ensembles in a celebration of the motets and canzonas of Giovanni Gabrieli 400 years since his death, together with music by his Venetian predecessors, Willaert and Andrea Gabrieli, and by the northerners who came to study with him in Venice, including the Dane Borchgrevinck and the Germans Hassler and Schütz. Friday 14 December at 7.30pm. Concert by Candlelight. NCEM, St Margaret's Church.
- The Tallis Scholars , directed by Peter Phillips: Journey of the Nativity. The Tallis Scholars' journey from The Annunciation (Ave Maria), via the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Übers Gebirg) and the birth of Christ, to the Presentation of Jesus in the temple (Nunc Dimittis paraphrased in Maria wallt zum Heiligtum). This concert is particularly rich in presenting popular works by Praetorius alongside Palestrina's gloriously architectural (and very rarely heard) Missa Ave Maria. Saturday 15 December at 7.30pm. Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York.
For tickets and more information please visit ncem.co.uk/xmas
