A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten

This December, in the awe-inspiring setting of Southwark Cathedral, Red Events presents a luminous Christmas programme centred on Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’.

Written in 1942 during Britten’s sea voyage from the USA to England and premiered at Wigmore Hall in 1943, the cycle of 12 short movements for voices and harp sets ancient English and Latin texts with disarming clarity and brilliance. By turns mystical, playful and radiant, it has become one of the most beloved works of the Christmas season. In 2023, the musical world marked the 80th anniversary of this iconic masterpiece.

This special London performance enriches Britten’s masterpiece with sacred reflections by Sir John Taverner and Arvo Pärt — voices of our own time who, like Britten, have sought the intersection of spirituality and sound. Soprano Patricia Rozario OBE, a long-time muse of Taverner, will offer personal insight into his music, alongside her role as narrator and soloist.

Completing the programme, seasonal works by Ralph Allwood and other masters of English song invite audiences into the intimacy of a truly English Christmas.

The concert also features harpist Eleanor Medcalf, the Ralph Allwood Singers, and will be conducted by Ralph Allwood MBE DMus, one of the UK’s leading choral directors. Alongside Patricia Rozario, other distinguished opera soloists will bring their voices to this seasonal programme, offering expressive highlights and individual arias that enrich the evening’s texture.

Completing the programme, seasonal works by Ralph Allwood and other masters of English song invite audiences into the intimacy of a truly English Christmas. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of Advent and Christmas in the grandeur of Southwark Cathedral.

PERFORMERS:

Ralph Allwood MBE DMus (Conductor)For 26 years, Director of Music at Eton College, Ralph Allwood, is one of the UK’s most celebrated choral directors, known for his transformative work with generations of singers. He is the founder of the Rodolfus Choral Courses and co-founder of the Junior Choral Courses, with over 14,000 alumni worldwide. Ralph has conducted more than 50 broadcasts for BBC Radio 3, founded the Rodolfus Choir (with over 22 acclaimed recordings), and led choirs in performances from Cambridge to Shanghai. His contributions to music and worship were recognised with the Thomas Cranmer Award, presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2017. Web: ralphallwood.com

Eleanor Medcalf (Harp)Eleanor Medcalf is an accomplished British harpist, pianist and soprano. A graduate of Queens’ College, Cambridge, where she studied Classics and served as a Choral Scholar (also serving as Vice-President of the Cambridge University Musical Society), she previously studied at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. Eleanor was Principal Harpist in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and has performed widely across the UK, including at the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham and Snape Maltings, under conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, John Wilson and Sian Edwards.

Now pursuing her Master’s in harp performance at the Guildhall School of Music (from September 2024), Eleanor is recognised for her artistry in both solo repertoire—performing works by Debussy and Ravel—and her skills as an administrator and collaborator. She has sung and performed extensively with leading ensembles and has won accolades such as the Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (2019). Alongside her musical work, she brings experience in arts administration and promotion.

Patricia Rosario OBE (Narrator, Soprano)Patricia Rozario OBE is an internationally acclaimed soprano whose career spans opera, concert, recital and recording. After training at the Guildhall School of Music, she has sung at major opera houses and festivals across Europe, the United States and Asia, and has built an especially strong reputation as an interpreter of twentieth-century and contemporary repertoire.

She worked closely with Sir John Tavener for over three decades, premiering many of his vocal works written especially for her unique voice. Her collaboration with Benjamin Britten included performances at the Aldeburgh Festival, where she sang some of his most distinctive soprano parts. Patricia’s artistry, dramatic range and commitment to new music have made her one of Britain’s most distinguished performers, combining deep interpretative insight with a career dedicated to both the classical canon and groundbreaking modern composition.The Ralph Allwood Singers (Choir)Formed especially for this performance, The Ralph Allwood Singers сhoir brings together highly accomplished professional singers, many of whom are members of leading UK ensembles and internationally award-winning choirs. Known for their precision, blend, and expressive power, they embody the very best of the British choral tradition.

PROGRAMME

​•​Benjamin Britten — A Ceremony of Carols (approx. 25 min)

​•​Benjamin Britten — On This Island (selections)

​•​Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Laudate Dominum

​•​Adolphe Adam — O Holy Night

​•​John Tavener — The Veil of the Temple: Many Years

​•​John Tavener — Song of the Angel

​•​Arvo Pärt — Magnificat

​•​Arvo Pärt — Bogoróditse Djévo

​•​Ralph Allwood — Lux Aeterna

​•​Ralph Allwood — O nata lux

​​With more Advent treasures to discover!