Sing Christmas

It’s always a pleasure to attend St Andrews Christmas performances (provided you bring a cushion – those pews are hard!) and their 2023 “Sing Christmas” carol concert was no exception.  Situated in the beautiful St Andrews church in Roker, the Group again performed a beautiful carol concert of festive music, carols, songs and readings.

Their arrangements are always spectacular and vocally one of the strongest groups in my district expertly arranged by Ken Matthews.  The voices were lovely, well controlled and arranged.  Audience participation was encouraged throughout, and this concert had a more modern and contemporary feel to it which the full church appreciated.  Colin Wood accompanied where appropriate on the organ, which is just spectacular in the grand church, the sound quality really does give something impressive and ethereal filling the beautiful church with sound. 

The running order felt more modern and contemporary and was really quite enjoyable.  We heard some more recent carol additions such as “O Radiant Dawn” by Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan from 2007 (thank you for the information in the programmes, as an audience member they’re very interesting to read) all the way to the perhaps more recognisable favourites such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “12 Days of Christmas” where audience participation was encouraged and very enjoyable.

I was very appreciative of the hot mulled wine in the interval, a lovely touch especially with the weather! Another lovely concert, thank you all very much.  Merry Christmas and I shall see you all again in 2024 for “Utopia” which sounds like it is going to be superb.

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