Next Concert

Lit by a Star

On Saturday the 6th of December 2025, join the Llewellyn Choir for a very special end-of-year concert, with movements from Benjamin Britten’s Christ's Nativity, alongside works by Ferko, Chatman and Davis. Britten composed Christ's Nativity in 1931, at the age of 17, while he was studying at the Royal College of Music – initially known as his “Christmas Suite”, it was never performed in full during his lifetime. Also on the program will be the delightful and contemporary Christmas works Festival of Carols by Frank Ferko and Carols of the Nativity by Stephen Chatman. Accompanied by Dr Anthony Smith on the piano and Alex Monro on the harp, don’t miss this exciting and unique way to celebrate Christmas.

About Christ’s Nativity

Britten drew his texts for this work from two main sources: a volume of Christmas Carols, given to him by his older sister Barbara in 1930, and 'Christmas Anthology', which he bought for himself whilst looking for texts for the Suite. The fugues in this piece were possibly present due to the influence of Britten’s teacher at the time, John Ireland, who was instructing Britten in strict counterpoint.

A ‘modern’ piece, in Britten’s typical style, the young composer explored the colours and textures he could obtain from his chorus to emphasise the Christmas theme. Christ’s Nativity is now recognised for being an early example of Britten’s masterful vocal writing.

About our other works

A Festival of Carols, for chorus and harp, is based on Christmas carol texts by 19th century American poets. Although some of the texts have previously been set to music (often by American composers), Ferko’s settings are new works, rather than arrangements of existing melodies. Carols of the Nativity, by Canadian composer Stephen Chatman, is a set of seven Christmas songs for voices and brass choir, some of which are arrangements of traditional songs. His texts come from sources such as Symonds, Bale, Middleton and Sandys.

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