Old carols made new for Christmas

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Noel! Noel! concerts are a good case in point. Here, the mandatory Christmas numbers are always interspersed with less familiar choral and instrumental pieces.

Two years ago, it included a fascinating sprinkling of baroque Latin American music and last year we heard some intriguing new compositions and arrangements.

This year's Noel! Noel! was slightly more traditional but no less rewarding. Favourite Christmas carols such as Once in Royal David's City, Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful were mixed in with a selection of Renaissance sacred music, Spanish and Portuguese folk songs and baroque instrumental works.

The Brandenburg Choir is the centrepiece of the Noel! Noel! concerts. Previously, I have praised its excellent diction, good dynamic control, well-blended sonorities and strong sense of line. Once again, these qualities stood out."

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