Ceremony of Carols

The centuries-old tradition of Christmas music has resulted in many beautiful songs in the past hundred years, from composers such as Britten, Poulenc and Howells. Britten’s collection A Ceremony of Carols stands out, but his lesser-known A Boy was Born, written for boys’ choir, is also magnificent. The RIAS Kammerchor from Germany has performed numerous successful concerts at the Muziekgebouw and is one of Europe’s finest choirs. They are renowned for their warm harmonies.

Poulenc’s music, in particular, continually surprises by veering off in slightly unexpected directions. This undoubtedly makes his music challenging to sing, highlighting the RIAS Kammerchor’s celebrated skill in pure and precise harmony. Less well-known but far more profound is Here is the Little Door, written from the point of view of one of the Magi, who serves as a stand-in for every believer.