Page 202 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

20 December 2023

ALLARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
REVIEW: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Spirit

of Christmas unwraps festive magic

December 20, 2023
Prospero's Daughter

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Spirit of Christmas is like a
gorgeous box of chocolates – a Quality Street of festive flavours

from across the centuries and around the world.

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, matriarch of the unfeasibly talented
musical dynasty and mother to seven giants of classical music,
came as the Purple One; soloist Kathryn Rudge as the Strawberry
Delight in a veritable ruby slipper of a dress. Against the black and

white of the wonderful Phil orchestra and choirs, the effect was
dazzling.

As was the assortment of carols, from the startling Rejoice and Be
Merry by Bob Chilcott to the soaring Stille Nacht, via a rousing

rendition of Gaudete and the unfamiliar but just gorgeous Huron
CaroI, Canada’s oldest Christmas song, these last two performed by
the fabulous Youth Choir.

And is it even Christmas without something from the Rutter canon?
Add to the selection box a sprinkling of congregational carols for

the audience to join in with and, with the tenuous excuse that these
tunes come from films that sometimes played on telly in
Christmases past, I Could Have Danced All Night and Somewhere
Over the Rainbow.

Liverpool music legend and former Philharmonic Choir Master, Ian
Tracey, returned to conduct the professional orchestra and