Melbourne Town Hall Sunday 10 December
The National Boys Choir returned to the Melbourne Town Hall for their annual Christmas concert, “Sing Christmas”.
There were performances by:
- The Training Choirs, directed by Mandy Lyn Brook, with accompanist Ben Taylor
- The Performing Choir, directed by Andrew Bainbridge, with accompanist Jane Matheson
- The Young Men’s Choir, directed by Andrew Bainbridge, with accompanist Ben Taylor and
- The Combined Boys and Men’s Choirs, with guest organist Anthony Halliday.
The featured work was John Rutter’s Fable with Music “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas”.
This is the legend of the 14th-century Dominican monk and mystic, Heinrich Suso who transcribed the carol In dulci jubilo after it had been sung to him by a band of angels; he is unexpectedly aided by Sigismund, his donkey.
Originally composed for choir, orchestra, and narrator, the NBCA has been given special permission by the composer to adapt the script and present it as a semi-staged and costumed work. The costumes were made by Maddy Connellan, and staging was by guest director, Nathan Jetson.
The concert also included a wide variety of well-known and new carols and Christmas songs, for a joyful celebration of the start of the Christmas season.
Following the NBCA concert the Performing choir were kept busy during the remainder of the Christmas season, being involved in some outstanding events including:
- Christmas Morning Melodies
Hamer Hall, Monday 11 December - Carols in the Cathedral
Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, St Paul’s Cathedral, Friday 15 & Saturday 16 December - Christmas at Crown Towers
Atrium, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 & Sunday 24 December - Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Sunday 24 December
