Brilliant Christmas Music Shines Very Brightly
A sell-out audience enjoyed a wonderful start to the Christmas Festivities at the YPC’s ever popular Annual Christmas Musical Feast.
From the traditional opening with O come, O come, Emmanuel, Wakefield Cathedral resounded to waves of musical harmony and joy. The 'full-house' was entertained with a programme of traditional and new Christmas Music and the YPC were on top form throughout, every item being enthusiastically received by the audience who heartily joined in on the traditional carols as invited.
Special guests for the evening were the boys of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Junior School Choir, under their conductor, Andrew Renshaw. The boys charmed the audience with their musicality, enthusiasm and smiles. They too included a wide variety within their two ‘spots’ and a number of high quality soloists from within the choir were featured in some pieces. They brought a positive touch of modernity to some traditional words, including a setting of Hark the Herald to ‘Clocks’ by Coldplay. This innovation was greatly appreciated by the audience who showed it in sustained and thoroughly deserved applause.
The Brass Quintet, a regular feature for this concert, was on excellent form with their own festive arrangements and also with their accompaniment to the traditional carols. Tom Moore had a busy evening accompanying at the Cathedral organ and also at the piano, making both keyboards sparkle!
The YPC were in flamboyant form under their conductor Andrew Padmore who not only compered the evening but amused all with his ‘Christmas Cracker’ jokes - it must be the way he tells them !
Featuring with the YPC in John Rutter's recently written 'Carol of the Magi' was Anna Staveley (surely a future star) who impressed with her skill and artistry on the Cello.
The humorous arrangement of 'The Twelve days of Christmas' brought the concert to a close.
A perfect evening of brilliant Christmas music, the YPC once again showing that the only place to be on the Saturday before Christmas is with them in Wakefield Cathedral, little wonder tickets are always keenly sought after.
