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Edinburgh FREE Live Music Now: Northern Lights Wind Quintet National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. 3.15pm. Music for woodwind sets the festive mood for a Saturday afternoon. Chapter House Singers Christmas Concert St Mary’s Cathedral, 23 Palmerston Place, 225 6293. 7.30pm. £10. A concert of seasonal songs, plus readings by Richard Holloway. Edinburgh Singers: Illuminare St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, 229 1142. 7.30pm. £10 (£8; under 16s free). Carols as well as Christmas pieces from Praetorius, Whitacre and others. Jubilo 30th Anniversary Christmas Concert Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, jubilo.org 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Jubilo celebrate 30 years of music-making with a special concert of carols and Christmas music, accompanied by the Edinburgh Players. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Mozart at Christmas The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £9.50–£28 (concessions available). See Fri 16. St Andrew Camerata Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Christmas music from Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Sunday 18 Glasgow FREE Christmas Carols at the Winter Gardens Winter Gardens, People’s Palace, Glasgow Green, 271 2962. 2.30pm. Christmas carols led by the Parkhead Salvation Army Band and Singers. BBC SSO: Christmas at the Movies City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 3pm. £10–£23. An animal-themed concert as several decades of Disney themes get an outing. Presented by Jamie MacDougall and conducted by Stephen Bell. FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. Sunday promenade concerts with different organists. City of Glasgow Chorus: A Christmas Cracker Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £16–£25. The Chorus and Orchestra perform carols, seasonal songs and a tribute to the late great John Barry. Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £15 (£12). Seasonal songs and carols featuring special guest soprano Catriona Morison and flautist Nikola Kyosev.
Edinburgh FREE Jeremy Cull Reid Memorial Church, 182 West Saville Terrace, 662 1203. 4pm. Organ recital. FREE Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. With St Giles’ Cathedral Choir.
✽✽ Cappella Nova: Carols by Candlelight The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£19 (£6.50–£15). See Fri 16. RSNO: The Christmas Concert Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £12.50–£34. See Fri 16.
Monday 19 Glasgow FREE Christmas Carol Service Renfield St Stephen’s Church, 260 Bath Street, 332 2826. 6.30–7.30pm. Christmas carol service in aid of Scottish military veterans. FREE Carols by Candlelight Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields. 7pm. Carols and readings from the Christmas story, with mince pies and mulled wine afterwards. Glasgow Schools Christmas Concert City Halls, Candleriggs, 353
8000. 7pm. £9 (£7). An evening of festive fun with some of Glasgow’s most talented young musicians in string ensembles, orchestra, pipe band, concerts band, big band and Voice Factory. Festive Fanfare! Hyndland Parish Church, 79–81 Hyndland Road, gwb.org.uk 7.30–9.30pm. £7 (£5). Festive favourites including carols and movie soundtracks from the Glasgow Wind Band. Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £15 (£12). See Sun 18. Edinburgh St Mary’s Music School Christmas Concert Palmerston Place Church, 12 Palmerston Place, 538 7766. 7.30pm. £8 (£5; children £1). Showcase for young musicians, including works by Schubert, Tchaikovsky and Mahler.
Friday 23
Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: White Christmas Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £21.50–£31.50. Irving Berlin said of White Christmas ‘Not only is it the best song I’ve ever written, it’s the best song anybody ever wrote.’ Hear it at this concert, along with other Christmas favourites.
Tuesday 27 Glasgow Raymond Gubbay presents: The Pirates of Penzance Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £17.50–£31.50. Alistair McGowan leads a cast of Savoyards in Gilbert & Sullivan’s subversive masterpiece.
Tuesday 20 Wednesday 28
Edinburgh Raymond Gubbay presents: The Pirates of Penzance Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £14.50–£33.50. See Tue 27. Thursday 29
Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: Movie Music Classics Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £22–£34. Virginia McKenna introduces a programme of movie themes by the likes of John Williams, Maurice Jarre and Elmer Bernstein. Edinburgh Raymond Gubbay: Glenn Miller Orchestra Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 2pm. £14.50–£29.50. An afternoon of swing-lite with bandleader Ray McVay, Catherine Sykes, Colin Anthony, the Uptown Hill Gang, the Moonlight Serenaders and special guests the Jiving Lindy Hoppers.
Saturday 31
Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: Hogmanay Gala City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £24–£36. Jamie MacDougall presents a series of popular classics by Rossini, Bizet, Debussy and others, plus Scottish favourites. Edinburgh Candlelit Concert in St Giles Cathedral St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 0844 573 8455. 7.30pm. £16. The music of Handel and Mozart performed by the St Giles’ Cathedral Choir and Camerata. Part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Thomas Trotter Palmerston Place Church, 12 Palmerston Place, 220 1690. 7.30pm. £10. Organ recital with pieces by JS Bach, Stanley, Wammes, Duruflé, Hollins, Buck, Holloway and Bizet.
Glasgow Glasgow Schools Christmas Concert City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £9 (£7). See Mon 19. Bothwell Philharmonic Choir Charity Christmas Concert Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £14. Charity concert with special guests the Gorgie Salvation Army Band. Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Orchestra Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£14. Carols and gospel music, with proceeds going to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Dunedin Consort: Handel’s Messiah The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £12–£25. The crack baroque ensemble gives its seasonal performance of Handel’s evergreen favourite. John Butt conducts. Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: Carols by Candlelight Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £14.50–£32.50. Carols and familiar classics by Bach, Mozart and Handel, performed in period costume for that extra touch of wig. Also featuring the Consort of Voices, Anna Devin (soprano) and Stuart Stratford (conductor).
Wednesday 21 Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: Carols by Candlelight Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £21.50–£31.50. See Tue 20.
Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Telephone Choir: Christmas Carol Concert Morningside Parish Church, 1 Cluny Drive Morningside, 669 4906. 7.30–8.30pm. Popular Christmas music from the Edinburgh Telephone Choir.
Thursday 22
Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: The Glory of Christmas Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £21.50–£31.50. A concert of festive Christmas music by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Franck and others. A Traditional Christmas City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£15; under 14s £10. The Scottish Concert Singers and conductor Colin McKenzie present seasonal favourites. Edinburgh FREE Richard Tanner St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, 229 1142. 7.30pm. Organ recital featuring Messiaen’s 1935 masterpiece La Nativité du Seigneur.
CLASSICAL Music
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Dunedin Consort: Handel’s Messiah Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the Dunedin Consort’s version of Handel’s Messiah. Small scale in size but huge in impact, its joyous message is conveyed with superb musicianship by the team led from the harpsichord by John Butt and with Susan Hamilton, soprano. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Tue 20 Dec.
Cappella Nova: Carols by Candlelight Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2012, Cappella Nova have been singing carols by candlelight for 25 of these years. Angelic voices, glowing brass, the goodwill warmth of the season and a bit of peace, love and humour all combine to create the essence of a Cappella Nova Christmas. Barony Hall, Glasgow, Fri 16 Dec; Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 18 Dec.
BBC SSO: Debussy & Borodin An almost Christmas music-free zone as the BBC SSO gives an afternoon performance of Borodin’s richly melodic Symphony No 2 and the more rarely heard Vaughan Williams’ Suite for Viola which includes a carol and a Christmas dance to mark the festive celebrations. City Halls, Glasgow, Thu 15 Dec.
with soloists Emma Matthews, Catherine Denley, Thomas Hobbs and Matthew Brook and the RSNO Chorus. Edinburgh Edinburgh Royal Choral Union: Handel’s Messiah Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. noon. £11–£25 (seniors £9.90–£22.50; students £5–£25; under 16s £5). The ERCU celebrates 125 years of choral singing. Bring a picnic to enjoy during the extended interval. Michael Bawtree conducts soloists Kate Valentine, Andrew Radley, James Geer, Richard Morrison and the Edinburgh Pro Musica Orchestra.
Sunday 1 Tuesday 3
Edinburgh SCO: New Year in Vienna Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7pm. £10–£28. A glittering charity gala of New Year favourites featuring works by Strauss (Sr and Jr) and Lehár, featuring soprano Elena Xanthoudakis. Nicholas McGegan conducts.
Monday 2 Glasgow RSNO: Handel’s Messiah Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm. £12.50–£34. The RSNO’s annual performance of Handel’s best-known work features guest conductor Roy Goodman along
Glasgow RSNO: A Viennese New Year Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£34. Welcome in the new year with Strauss classics featuring soprano Ailish Tynan. David Danzmayr conducts.
Thursday 5 Edinburgh FREE Live Music Now: Laura Margaret Smith & Anne McGregor Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. 6pm. Smith (mezzo-soprano) and MacGregor (piano) perform songs by MacMillan, Schumann and Geddes.
15 Dec 2011–5 Jan 2012 THE LIST 111