An English Folk Christmas by Candlelight

Join City of London Sinfonia and Holst Singers for a celebratory evening of this country's traditional Christmas folk tunes and tales. Featuring Vaughan Williams' evergreen Fantasia on Christmas Carols and This is the Truth Sent from Above, choral pieces from around the English countryside including Warlock's Bethlem Down and Stephen Cleobury's Shropshire Carol, with Christmas tales from Dickens and our other great story-tellers. Alongside this, we invite you to sing along with the Orchestra and our friends the Holst Singers in carols chosen by the audience to ensure you don't miss out on your own Christmas favourites!

On 20 December 2016 CLS present An English Folk Christmas by Candlelight at St John’s Smith Square, a celebratory evening of traditional Christmas folk tunes and tales from around the country. The programme features Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols and This is the Truth Sent from Above, one of several folk tunes preserved and popularised by the composer, which he transcribed in 1909 from a collection of Herefordshire folk music. Choral pieces include Warlock’s Bethlehem Down, Bolton’s A Garland of Carols and Stephen Cleobury’s Shropshire Carol.

CLS are joined by the Holst Singers and guest conductor Jeremy Cole, who conducts the programme along with CLS Principal Conductor Michael Collins.