This was a spine-tinglingly good concert from start to finish!
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, and Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir are in a league of their own. They are consummate professionals who brought traditional Christmas and classical music to life, delivering an astonishingly perfect, faultless performance throughout the evening. This was a true musical extravaganza of the highest calibre, and both my daughter and I felt privileged not only to witness this sensational Christmas spectacle but also to have the opportunity to review it.
The orchestra, under the leadership of Thelma Handy and Chorusmaster Ian Tracey, performed over seventy concerts last season in its acoustically perfect and prestigious home, the Concert Hall within the Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre. It is no wonder that the RLPO has achieved esteemed accolades such as Gramophone Orchestral Recording of the Year and the BBC Music Magazine Award. They are also in high demand to collaborate with both classical and popular musical artists.
The evening was hosted and kept to time by Roderick Williams OBE, who did a sterling job filling intervals with anecdotes and poetry readings. He embodied the true meaning of Christmas with tales of wonderment, family squabbles, and the joy and magic of the season through the eyes of a parent. The high calibre of this artist epitomises the great demand he is in around the world.
The Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir were also exquisitely sublime, evoking deep emotions with their searing voices. Simon Emery, Artistic Director of the Youth Choir, enthusiastically conducted his tutees and clapped like a proud parent during their final bow. He has done a wonderful job, clearly creating stars of the future who will no doubt graduate to become members of the main choir.
Matthew Hamilton has been conducting Christmas concerts since 2006. He is a seasoned professional who is admired and respected by artists and audiences alike. He brought warmth and fun to the evening, heartily joining in the singing during the audience participation elements of the programme.
This annual event is not to be missed next year by cultural enthusiasts. The range of Christmas carols, which encouraged audience participation, and the classical music performed made this a first-class experience for all.
Overall rating: 10/10
There’s something about Suzanne Vega that makes time slow down. Maybe it’s the precision of her language, the economy of her voice,
When the Africa Oyé festival takes a rare breather, you better believe something special is brewing in its place. This June, one
There are voices that entertain—and then there are voices that linger. Blick Bassy’s belongs firmly in the second camp. The Cameroonian singer-songwriter
The Broken Spine is a poetry and arts collective proudly published on the coastal edge of North-West England. Founded in 2019 by Alan Parry and Paul Robert Mullen – two school friends reunited after twenty years through a mutual love of poetry.
