Come and Listen: An Advent Celebration in Song

Handel's Messiah & Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio, plus Bach, Berlioz, Kodály & Mendelssohn. Soloists, organ & strings. 6pm, bar to 9:30pm Come and Listen: An Advent Celebration in Song Saturday 28 November, 6pm · St Mary's Church, Shinfield On the eve of Advent, join us for an evening of Christmas choral music, from the Hallelujah Chorus to a festive gem you've probably never heard. A choir of singers from across the region will come together that very day to perform two cornerstones of the season. The first half is anchored by Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio, a rarely performed and beautiful work that deserves to be much better known. The second half builds to Handel's Messiah and the Hallelujah Chorus. The evening ends with a festive encore. The choir is joined by organ and string quartet and a line-up of emerging artists whose credits include work with Voces8, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and ANÚNA. The evening is conducted by award-winning Beth Fitzpatrick, one of the country's most exciting young conductors, recently at Opera Holland Park and Opera North's Female Conducting Trainee for 2025/26. The choir is prepared by vocal coach Alison Chamberlain, who has sung with Dame Joan Sutherland and the Ambrosian Singers and now coaches the CBSO Chorus. What you'll hear First half • Kodály: Veni Emmanuel • Mendelssohn: There shall a star from Jacob come forth • Saint-Saëns: Christmas Oratorio Interval (30 minutes) Second half • Bach: Wachet auf (Sleepers, Wake) • Berlioz: The Shepherds' Farewell • Handel: Messiah, Part 1 (abridged) • Handel: Hallelujah Chorus There's a bar open before the concert, during the interval and afterwards, so you can arrive early, stay late and make an evening of it. Practical details • Date: Saturday 28 November • Start: 6pm, finishing by 8:30pm including a 30-minute interval. Doors open at 5:30pm • Bar: open before, during and after, until 9:30pm • Venue: St Mary's Church, Shinfield, RG2 9BY • Tickets: £12 in advance, £15 on the door. Under 15s £8 in advance, £10 on the door. Do come and listen to what will be a spectacular concert and the perfect way to start the festivities!