Cappella Concert: A Christmas Tapestry

Drew Cantrill-Fenwick writes: A very warm welcome to ‘A Christmas Tapestry’. As the nights draw in and the air takes on that familiar wintry sharpness, we gather to weave together music, poetry and story into a Nordic-inspired celebration of the season. Tonight’s programme moves from the expectant hush of Advent to the brightness of Christmas Day, threaded throughout with moments of candle- light, reflection and joyful song. Our Nordic theme invites us into a world of deep forests, star-bright skies and the gentle comforts of hygge – that cherished sense of warmth, companionship and simple pleasure. In the midst of winter, hygge reminds us to savour togetherness; to rest, to breathe, and to delight in the small wonders that this season brings. You will hear echoes of that atmosphere in the serene carols of Scandinavia, from the luminous ‘Jul, jul’ to the lively Staffan traditions of Sweden, associated with St Stephen’s Day. We also nod to one of the most beautiful Nordic customs of all: the feast of Santa Lucia. Celebrated on 13 December, it honours the bringer of light, traditionally marked with processions of candles borne through the darkness. Lucia’s radiance symbolises hope at the very heart of winter – a theme that runs through so much of tonight’s music, from Praetorius’s chorale to the quiet mystery of Gjeilo’s writing.  Programme available for download here.