14 December: Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Christmas Treasures, St John's, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA, 7.30pm

The choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, was founded just under 500 years ago by Thomas Wolsey and Henry VIII.  Now world famous in its own right for the excellence and versatility of its singing, the Choir tours worldwide and undertakes a prodigious recording schedule as well as singing daily in the cathedral.  Additionally, the Choir collaborates with a number of orchestras, recently recording Goodall's Eternal Light: A Requiem for EMI, which won a Classical Brit Award.

For this year's Christmas Festival at St John's, Smith Square, director Stephen Darlington has chosen Christmas gems, many of which are familiar and all of which are very beautiful, to create a programme of Christmas Treasures.  The programme features two brilliant pianists whose colourful accompaniments are as breathtaking as their seasonal duets.  All this is presented by Howard Goodall in informative and entertaining festive form.

Stephen Darlington director
Clive Driskill-Smith piano
Michael Heighway piano

"This choir achieved a soaring serenity from the moment they opened their mouths."
-- Bermuda Festival Review

"Under Darlington's direction, they sing...with confidence and warmth." 
-- Sunday Times

"To hear a choir like this is to hear a quality of musicianship with no equal anywhere in the world."
-- Independent on Sunday