Lessons & Carols
Please note: this performance does not take place at Sydney Opera House. This performance takes place at St Philip’s Church, York Street.
Experience the comfort and tradition of Lessons and Carols with the Sydney Philharmonia Chamber Singers and organist David Drury in program combining familiar carols with philosophical readings and some audience participation
Event details
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 17 December 2026 | 7:00pm |
| Friday, 18 December 2026 | 7:00pm |
| Unreserved seating | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | $44 |
| Concession* | $40 |
| Child Under 18 | $30 |
| Adult Under 30 | $30 |
*Australian pensioners & full-time students
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agencies for this event are Sydney Opera House and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Wednesday 26 November 2025
For those requiring assistance, wheelchair or companion seating, accessible seating locations are available. Bookings can be made by calling the Box Office on 1300 764 849 or by email.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
It will be sung in English. We will produce a short daybill program with translation available via QR code. There will be no surtitles.
ClassikOn...a chorus of angels...it all felt like shimmering silver clouds in the distance slowly building and moving closer.
Program
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Blessed Song of God
Boris ORD Adam Lay Ybounden
TRAD. arr. Charles Wood A Virgin most pure
William MATHIAS A Babe is Born
TRAD. arr. David Willcocks
I Saw Three Ships
Sussex Carol
Arthur SULLIVAN arr. David Willcocks It came upon a midnight clear
Michael PRAETORIUS Es ist ein Rose entsprungen
John TAVENER The Lamb
ANON. ed. John Stevens There is no rose
John RUTTER Mary’s Lullaby
TRAD. arr. June Nixon The Holly and the Ivy
Franz Xaver GRUBER arr. David Drury Silent Night
Gustav HOLST arr. Mack Wilberg In the Bleak Midwinter
James WHITBOURN The Magi’s Dream
TRAD. arr. Stuart Nicholson Ding Dong Merrily on High
with readings of poetry and Psalmsand singalong carols:
Once in Royal David’s City
While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Artists
Brett Weymark conductor
John Bell reader
David Drury organ
Chamber Singers
2026 Season
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ 2026 Season celebrates the joy of singing in an extraordinary musical arc that spans the Baroque to today.
Attending this event
Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.
Ticket information
If you have further questions or need help, please refer to our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact a member of our team on 1300 764 849.
A resale restriction is in place, meaning it is unlawful for a person to resell their ticket for more than 110% of the face value. In all cases, it is advisable that tickets are only purchased from authorised channels, to protect your rights should the event be cancelled or postponed and to be sure you receive all necessary communications.
The authorised agency for this event is listed under ticket pricing. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies.
A booking fee of $8.95 applies per transaction. Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children three (3) years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Please contact Box Office on 1300 SOH TIX as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
eTicket or postal delivery should be used wherever possible. Tickets will be emailed three days prior to the event. Download your e-Ticket and have it ready on your mobile device for scanning before you queue to enter the venue.
At the venue
Information to help you arrive at the venue on time and prepared for your show.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy. The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House is a smoke-free site. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
The safety and security of patrons, visitors and staff is our highest priority. Entry to venues inside the Opera House including theatres, the Utzon Room, the Centre for Creativity and Bennelong Restaurant is via a single entry point located under the Monumental Steps.
In line with our venue security procedures, all ticketholders must present their bags and personal belongings for visual inspection or x-ray screening prior to entering the building. Our walk-through scanners are safe for patrons with pacemakers, cochlear implants or similar devices. Please let security know if you prefer alternative screening.
We hope all our audience members, including those children with us, have a wonderful time. Please keep disturbances to a minimum. Ticketholders who interfere unreasonably with another’s enjoyment may be asked to leave.
If your child becomes unsettled during the performance, we ask that you step outside with them until they settle. Note that you may not be readmitted until there is a suitable break in the performance.
Filming and photography is not permitted inside the venue, unless expressly authorised by us. You must switch your mobile phone off or to silent while in the venue.
Refreshments are available to purchase from our theatre bars, with foyers open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
The Opera House has a range of restaurants and bars on site. Explore our venues.
Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show. It is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly. Larger items – including handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks, umbrellas, suitcases and prams – are not permitted inside the venues and must be cloaked.
Yes, pram parking is available outside our theatres. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers.
Foyer doors are usually open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 120 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Theatre doors will open 30 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 15 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
If you’re collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.
We’ll aim to seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat.
Where an event has a lock-out period, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.