Carols at the House

Friday night and Sydney is a-buzz! Martin Place is crowded with gift and food stalls and people taking photos of the giant Christmas tree. George Street is thronged with people walking and talking or eating and drinking at outdoor restaurants. A circle of food stalls at the Quay greets those dismounting from the light rail to make their way to the Opera House, some in a last-minute dash to the outdoor concert on the steps of the House; others to the Concert Hall for the best introduction to Christmas of all, the massed Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and …

Carols at the House – “a grand celebration of Christmas from all around the world” in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The very remarkable Brett Weymark conducts over 500 voices, 100 of them from the Philharmonia’s Symphony Choir, 71 from the VOX Choir and 347 members of the Christmas Choir, singers from all over Sydney who answer Weymak’s invitation to join the Philharmonia for this special Christmas concert. They are accompanied by the seventy strong Philharmonia Orchestra with David Drury high above them at the grand organ.

Joining them this year are soloists soprano Annie Aitken, tenor Alexander Lewis, young soloist Ned Williams … and compere Mitchell Butel, the multi-talented Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company.

The smiling faces of the choristers and musicians and the restless excitement of the very eager audience create an atmosphere of happiness and anticipation – and the program that follows adds harmony, humour and much joy.

Traditional carols, some given “a jazzier flavour” are interspersed with music by Australian composers and “a special musical theatre bracket that ponders the importance of children”. Twenty-five items in all have been carefully collated to culminate with a rousing rendition of “We wish You a Merry Christmas” and a surprise encore from a very much-loved chorus!

Hearing the choirs sing Deborah Cheetham Fraillon and Matthew Doyle’s acknowledgement of country “Tarimi Nulay – Long Time Living Here” is always a very special way to pay tribute to the ancient culture of this land.

Annie Aitken’s beautifully controlled performance of “Panis Angelicus” written in the 13^th century by St Thomas Aquinus and set to music by César Franck in 1872 acknowledges a different tradition as does “Cantique de Noël” (O Holy Night) written by French poet Placide Cappeau and composer Adolphe Adam, especially when sung so powerfully by Alex Lewis.

But it is the Choirs that lead this program, and Aitken and Lewis join them in the spirit of joy – and fun – and fun that Weymark always injects into this celebration.  The Choirs decribe a special kind of joy in Australian composer Luke Byrne’s “Capricorn” based on Ruth Park’s description of “Mumma’s” love of Christmas in “Harp in the South” … and a quiet, peaceful Christmas in “Sing Gently” written in 2020 by American composer Eric Whitacre.

The rousing notes of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” are made even more so by multiple improvisations on “five gold rings” by different parts of the choir and the soloists, including a piece of comedic choreography performed by the by the compere!

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas”. Weymark uses this quote from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” as an introduction to the Choirs’ musical theatre tribute to children. Young Ned Williams, son of the VOX Choir conductor Elizabeth Scott, begins with two verses of “When I Grow Up” from Tim Minchin’s Matilda. He is joined by the Choirs, and Aitken and Lewis in school pupil mode. This is followed by the gentle “Our Children” from Ragtime by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and from Sondheim’s very poignant “Children Will Listen” from Into the Woods

… Children will look to you/For which way to turn/To learn what to be.

Australian composer Joe Twist is in the audience to hear his new carol “Christmas in the Sun”. With lyrics by Jodie O’Regan, Twist describes this new work as “Full of everything we love (and laugh at) about celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer”:

“… At the beach the sun is shining down on a snowman made of sand

      And we splash and swim in glist’ning waves in the sea of a glorious land…

The audience rose as one when welcomed to join with the Choirs for “The First Nowell” and “Good King Wenceslas” – then again to applaud as this amazing celebration came to an end.

What a wonderful night! And it’s on again tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Thank you Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for bringing a whole weekend of musical Christmas cheer to fill the Concert Hall.

Carol Wimmer

Photographer: Keith Saunders