A Baroque Christmas
Festive Favourites and more
The Christmas season offers the chance to enjoy many festive musical masterpieces in concerts across the UK, from medieval carols through to works written in the present day. In this newsletter we take a look at concerts coming up in these final two weeks of December which feature music from the Baroque - a period which arguably boasts some of the best-loved and most glorious festive masterpieces ever written.
Handel’s Messiah is a Christmas favourite for many, and there is no shortage of high quality performances this year.
In London, Istante Collective offer a slightly unusual take in their concert BACH, BEER & MESSIAH!. They pair their own pocket-sized version of Handel’s masterpiece with Telemann’s lesser-known Der Messias and will also treat you to some Bach chorals and an Orchestral Suite. Homemade focaccia, biscuits and drinks - staples at Baroquestock Festival concerts - will be available during the interval to get you into the festive spirit! Join them on 16 December in Hampstead.
In Scotland, the Dunedin Consort will be presenting Handel’s Messiah in St Aloysius Church, Glasgow on 17 December and Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall on 18 December. Performed ‘the Dunedin way’ as Handel would have first heard it, with a small orchestra, a team of twelve singers, and soloists who step out from the chorus, there are few more uplifting ways to celebrate the festive season!
On both days and in both locations, Dunedin’s specially-devised Children’s Messiah will be performed at 4pm. Guided by Mr Handel, this 45-minute adaptation of Handel’s masterpiece will guide young listeners through some of his greatest hits, with plenty of fun and interactive games along the way.
Another festive musical gem, by a giant of Baroque, is J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Supported by Continuo Foundation, Fiori Musicali will be performing this masterpiece in Northampton Catholic Cathedral on 20 December. Join them for an evening of gloriously uplifting and jubilant music to welcome in the festive season.
Finally, The Brook Street Band are joined by tenor David de Winter for their annual Christmas Concert for Norwich Chapel Concerts on 22 December - a firm favourite in Norwich’s festive diary for over 20 years. Join them for seasonal Handel and Telemann cantatas, sensual songs by Purcell...and a Christmas surprise!
If you're looking for gift inspiration and panicking as Christmas approaches, look no further than our Continuo Edit - featuring the remarkable recordings on period instruments supported by Continuo Foundation over the past four years.
You might also like to keep out of the cold weather and browse all Continuo Connect has to offer, from upcoming concerts to our latest features and interviews. Listening to our playlists is also a great way to discover new artists and repertoire.
All our newsletters can be read on Continuo Connect’s Substack page.