Benjamin Britten Saint Nicolas (A Cantata for Christmastide)

Saint Nicolas, putative Bishop of Myra, is today better known to us as Santa Claus. Using words by the librettist Eric Crozier, Britten sets eight episodes from Nicolas' life, from birth to his tranquil death, which are introduced by a tenor soloist (here sung by rising Melbourne tenor Alastair Cooper-Golec) and described by a choir (of some of Melbourne's finest vocal soloists), all ravishingly scored for strings, piano duet, organ and percussion. IOpera is delighted to be collaborating with the innovative ensemble Forest Collective, under the baton of their Artistic Director, Evan Lawson in his undeservedly rare performance of this delightful, and ultimately ravishingly beautiful, work by the one of unquestionably great musical setters of the English language.