Alleluya Choral treasures for Christmas

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ Chamber Singers perform a treasure trove of a cappella Christmas gems from the Renaissance of Palestrina and Victoria to a world premiere by young Australian composer Aija Draguns – all clustered around the sparkling Advent Motets of Josef Rheinberger. 

Please note: this event is not held at the Sydney Opera House.

Spend an hour in the cool sandstone and kaleidoscopic stained glass of St Philip’s on York Street and immerse yourself in an a cappella program of inspired Christmas miniatures from across the ages. 

At the heart of the concert is a set of nine Advent motets by 19th-century German Josef Rheinberger. He was court composer to Ludwig II of Bavaria of Neuschwanstein Castle fame, and these motets have that same Romantic fairy-tale beauty, with soaring melodies and rich harmonies. We’ve interspersed them with some rare jewels of the Christmas repertoire, from Palestrina and Victoria evoking Renaissance cathedrals to the music from English choral tradition of Edward Elgar and Herbert Howells and beyond. And young Australian Aija Draguns has composed something new for this musical celebration of the birth of Christ. 

Bask in the serenity and purity of unaccompanied voices in this exquisite concert with Sydney Philharmonia’s Chamber Singers and feel the true peace of Christmas spirit.

Program

Aija DRAGUNS Unter deinen Schirmen (Beneath your protection)† 
Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA O Magnum Mysterium
Josef RHEINBERGER Nine Advent Motets, Op.176
Edward ELGAR I Sing the Birth
Tomás Luis de VICTORIA Ne timeas, Maria
Elizabeth POSTON Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Raffaella ALEOTTI Angelus ad pastores
Jacob HANDL Two motets:
     Natus est nobis Deus de Deo
     Canite tuba in Sion
Peter WARLOCK Bethlehem Down
Javier BUSTO Magnificat
Richard Rodney BENNETT Out of your sleep
Herbert HOWELLS A Spotless Rose
Peter WISHART Alleluya, A New Work is at Hand

† World premiere

Artists

Tim Cunniffe conductor
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Chamber Singers

Presented by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs