ROYAL Northern Sinfonia’s (RNS) festive favourite, the Christmas by Candlelight concert series, is back for 2019, with performances in churches across the region.
Back for its fourth year – and this year bigger than before with ten concerts throughout the tour – Christmas by Candlelight sees the orchestra visit Darlington, Durham, Alnwick, Richmond, Stockton, Rothbury, Carlisle, Hexham, Cullercoats and Sunderland.
Each concert, complete with hundreds of candles, features Vivaldi’s much-loved Winter from The Four Seasons.
The performances will be held from at 7.30pm from Thursday December 5 to Wednesday December 11.
Led by Kyra Humphreys and Tristan Gurney, the orchestra will bring to life its icy storms and cosy fireside melodies right on your doorstep.
The programmes also feature virtuosic concertos from RNS’ Richard Martin (trumpet), Steven Hudson and Michael O’Donnell (oboe) and Peter Francomb (horn), as well as classical favourites by Grieg and Mendelssohn.
With concerts selling out in previous years – and Cullercoats already sold out for this year – advance booking is strongly recommended.
Tickets are £15 standard and £5 for Under-18s and are available from Sage Gateshead’s Box Office in person, by calling 0191 443 4661 or at sagegateshead.com.
Programme One
St Michael’s Church, Alnwick, Friday December 6.
Stockton Parish Church, Saturday December 7.
Hexham Abbey Tuesday, December 10.
Sunderland Minster, Wednesday December 11.
Grieg Holberg Suite
Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto in E minor
Grieg Våren (Last Spring) from Two Elegiac Melodies Op.34
Vivaldi ‘Winter’ from Four Seasons
Vivaldi Concerto for Two Trumpets
Grieg Quartet No.1 arr String Ensemble
Programme Two
St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington, | Thursday December 5.
St Mary’s Church, Richmond | Friday 6 December
All Saints Church, Rothbury | Saturday 7 December
St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle | Sunday 8 December
St George’s Church, Cullercoats | Wednesday 11 December
Albinoni Concerto for Two Oboes in F, Op.9 No.3
Schreker Intermezzo Op.8 and Scherzo
Punto Horn Concerto No.5
Vivaldi ‘Winter’ from Four Seasons
Mendelssohn String Quartet No.3 in D
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