NSO Christmas Lunchtime

National Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Bell, conductor
Jade Phoenix, soprano 

Leroy Anderson A Christmas Festival 
Pierpont Jingle Bells arr. David Willcocks 
Tchaikovsky Selections from The Nutcracker 
Handel ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ from Samson 
Leroy Anderson Sleigh Ride 
Traditional Christmas Carol Fantasy arr. Paul Campbell
Adam O Holy Night 
Traditional The Twelve Days of Christmas arr. Stephen Doughty 
Traditional Hark! The Herald Angels Sing arr. David Willcocks 
Traditional Sneewalzer arr. Goff Richards 

What better way to welcome in and celebrate the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ (as the song has it) than with a Christmas cracker of a concert bursting with favourite carols, festive delights and fun aplenty.

Conductor Christopher Bell makes an always welcome return in the company of the exciting new soprano voice of Jade Phoenix – ‘an aptitude for bravura that is quite impressive’ (Irish Times) – for a timely distraction from the stressful preparations for the big day itself.

Leroy Anderson conjures all the excitement and joy of Christmas with his spirited compendium of Christmas hits, A Christmas Festival, while his ever-popular Sleigh Ride canters through a glistening snow-capped landscape.

Revelling in the season’s magic are selections from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, while Handel’s bejewelled ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ is a brilliant coloratura showcase.

And because Christmas without carols wouldn’t be Christmas, Paul Campbell squeezes so many into his glorious Christmas Carol Fantasy that you’ll lose count. And that’s before the cheering glee of Jingle Bells, exhausting generosity of The Twelve Days of Christmas, hushed beauty of O Holy Night, and that rousing hymnal to the promise of Christmas and all its glad tidings, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Presented by NCH