After two years of packed houses, everyone wanted us to do it again in 2004! Mark the Christmas Season in the Gothic Cathedral splendour of the Landmark Arts Centre in a family celebration programme of innovative and traditional music. Surrey Brass, Wessex Chamber Choir, Chertsey Children's Chorus join together for a special festive event that everyone will enjoy. 

The programme will be presented by Mike Burnside who will also give seasonal readings (both conventional and new!). Mike has been an actor/director for well over thirty years and his extensive credits include seasons at the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company among many others. His TV credits include: Commissioner Hicks in 'The Bill' (nine years), 'East Enders', 'Family Affairs', 'The House that Jack Built', and most recently 'The Alan Clarke Diaries'. Recent Films include 'Welcome to Ibiza', 'Silent Cry', 'The Plague', and 'Charlotte Grey'. Radio credits include numerous voice-overs on Independent radio and 'Daughters of Britannia' for Radio 4.

Wessex Chamber Choir

Since its formation in 1990, the Wessex Chamber Choir has developed to the point where it is now acknowledged as one of the finest choral ensembles in the Hampshire / Berkshire / Surrey region. The activities of the choir are as diverse as the works it performs. Music spans everything from renaissance plainsong to church music of the present day, and everything in between. The Wessex is in constant demand to sing at Cathedrals across the country when the regular choirs are away and leads weddings, funerals and memorial services throughout the year. Concerts across and beyond the region, combine this religious repertoire with madrigals, folk music - even African tribal songs - and arrangements of current popular music, many by the choir's Musical Director, Nicholas Woods. At full strength, the choir numbers around thirty members, some from cathedral and collegial backgrounds, many with experience of recording and broadcasting. Surrey Brass are delighted to have the opportunity to perform with them again. Like Surrey Brass, The Wessex Chamber Choir is a member of Making Music, which supports music groups all  over the country.

Surrey Brass has rapidly developed a keen audience following numerous local events since their formation including Golden Jubilee Fanfare contest, airplay on BBC Southern Counties Radio, and appearances at RHC Wisley backing Alan Price and The Bootleg Beatles. 

Chertsey Childrens' Choir is based at St Anne's School Chertsey and is run by Carolyn Spencer, the music coordinator at the school. There are 45 children in the choir at present, aged between 7 and 11. The choir rehearses once a week and it is a joyful affair with lots of movement as well as singing. I have a suspicion that the children come just for the cookies which kick start each rehearsal. but no matter, it keeps us all in good voice! The children are very excited about singing in the Landmark Arts Centre again and hope very much that you enjoy their contributions. There is a high profile on singing in the school and they have just brought out their first CD called "Songs from the Arc" - Carolyn Spencer

Carols by Candlelight will feature your favourite Christmas Music plus some pleasant new surprises. Everyone is encouraged to join in the singing of Carols.

Read what the audience said about last years concert!

Programme

Although we anticipate to play the listed music, in the listed order, the musical programme may be subject to change. 
Expect unprogrammed additions for your enjoyment!

Tickets

Tickets available from the Landmark Box Office - 020 8977 7558                                                                                                             

Please note tickets for this event are only available from the Landmark Box Office.

Venue Information

Reviews

Read previous reviews or send your own review of this concert for inclusion here!                            

Saturday 18th December: Surrey Brass - Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington

Surrey Brass presented "Carols by Candlelight" - a selection of Christmas music together with the Wessex Chamber Choir and Chertsey Children's chorus under their musical director Robin Smith at the Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington on Saturday 18th December. This particular event is becoming a firm annual favourite in the Surrey Brass Calendar, confirmed by the sell out attendance of over 250. This former cathedral is exactly the kind of acoustic setting which Christmas music calls for and the walls echoed with the fine combined sounds of brass and voice. 

The concert began at a markedly different acoustic level - an unaccompanied brave solo junior voice from the school choir breaking the silence with Once in Royal Davids City. The pitch was held perfectly with just the right amount of (nervous) vibrato for the choir, brass and then audience to join in and set the tone for the evening - a testimony to some thorough preparation and coaching from the children's musical director, Carolyn Spencer. 

Individual contributions from the three ensembles provided contrasting tones for the programme, punctuated by some excellent seasonal readings by the celebrity MC and presenter, Mike Burnside The Choir and brass combined in antiphonal setting for Pinkham's Christmas Cantata and the rousing Willcock's fanfare and audience carol finale prompted an encore - Tchaikovsky's "Trepak" from the Nutcracker Suite , presented at Olympic pace by Surrey Brass. 

I'm sure next years event will be sold out in early December - book early to avoid disappointment. Surrey Brass next concert is on 27th January at the Trinity College of Music - details at surreybrass.co.uk

Steven Bishop

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